In sum: a woman with an established menstrual habit follows her habit; a woman who can distinguish the blood acts on that distinction; and a woman who has neither reverts to six or seven days of menstruation. In this way the three prophetic teachings regarding the woman with chronic bleeding are harmonized.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) said: “Six indicators have been mentioned. The first is the habitual pattern, for it is the strongest sign, given that the default is to maintain the status of menstruation over anything else. The second is discernment, because dark, thick, foul-smelling blood is more fitting to be deemed menstrual than bright red blood. The third is to consider the prevalent habit of women, for the rule is to attach the individual case to what is most common. These three indicators are supported by both the Sunnah and sound reasoning.” He then listed the remaining signs that have been proposed.

He further stated in al-Nihāyah: “The soundest opinion is to recognize only those indicators established by the Sunnah and to discard everything else.”