What is the established period of post-natal bleeding (nifas) observed by the Companions and later scholars?
Chapter on Menstruation
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The consensus among the People of Knowledge, comprising the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and those after them, is that the woman in post-natal confinement refrains from prayer for forty days, unless she sees purification before that time, in which case she performs Ghusl (ritual bath) and prays. This view is attributed to Umar, Ibn Abbas, Uthman ibn Abi al-As, 'A'idh ibn 'Amr, Anas, and Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with them. This opinion is held by al-Thawri, Ishaq, and the People of Opinion (Ahl al-Ra'y). This is supported by the narration from Umm Salamah that women during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, would abstain for forty days and forty nights. This period is considered a consensus (Ijma') by al-Tirmidhi and Abu Ubayd.
Supporting text
Malik and al-Shafi'i hold that the maximum period is sixty days. A narration from Ahmad, cited by Ibn Aqil, aligns with this view, as it is reported that al-Awza'i mentioned a woman who experienced nifas for two months, and similar findings were reported from 'Ata'. Al-Shafi'i stated that the majority duration is forty days. Any excess bleeding beyond sixty days, or beyond fifteen days for a menstruating woman, is treated as irregular bleeding (istihadah).