What is the ruling on bleeding immediately before childbirth (labor pains/Makhad)?

Chapter on Menstruation

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 8 · Bab 12

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a woman experiences labor pains one or two days before delivery and sees blood, the sound ruling is that it is post-natal bleeding (Nifas) because it is blood discharged due to childbirth, similar to what follows delivery. This is determined if the blood appears shortly after signs of impending birth, such as labor pains, are observed. If blood appears without any sign of impending delivery, she must not cease worship, as it is presumed to be blood of corruption. If it becomes clear shortly before delivery (e.g., delivery occurs one or two days later), she must make up any obligatory fasts observed during that time. If she sees the blood upon observing the signs of delivery, she ceases worship; if it later becomes clear she was not near delivery, she must make up the missed obligatory worship, as she abandoned them without menstruation or Nifas. If the bleeding occurs after sixty days, the issue is resolved, and it is certain not to be menses, so she prays and fasts without making up previous obligations.

Supporting text

Ibrahim al-Nakha'i and the people of Madinah, including Al-Shafi'i, hold that blood seen upon the onset of labor pains is menses. 'Ata' stated she should pray and not count it as menses or Nifas. Ya'qub ibn Bakhtan reported from Ahmad that if she has labor pains before birth, she does not repeat prayers.