Establishing a fixed menstrual habit (Adah) based on the observed pattern of flow colors across several months?

Chapter on Menstruation

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 2 · Bab 12

Open in Qurani

Primary text

When a woman observes a pattern involving black and red flow across several months, the ruling for the third and fifth months, where clear distinction is lacking or the black flow is superseded, depends on establishing her fixed habit (Adah). If the habit is established by two occurrences, she calculates her habit duration based on the third, fourth, and fifth months. If the habit is established only by three occurrences, she calculates her habit from the fifth month, as she has now observed the pattern in three separate months.

Supporting text

There is an opinion that she does not establish a fixed habit, and she should abstain (consider it menstruation) for the duration of the black flow she observes in the fifth month, because black blood is considered most akin to menstrual blood.