What is the ruling regarding menstruation bleeding in a distinguishing girl (mumayyizah) after the initial three months?
Chapter on Menstruation
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
If the menstruating girl possesses distinction (تمييز), she observes the ruling of distinction after the first three months. Within those initial three months, she observes abstinence (sitting out prayer/fasting) for one day and night, which is the period of certainty (اليقين). However, if the menses is established by two occurrences, she reverts to the ruling of distinction in the third month, and this is acted upon. Ibn Aqil narrates a view from Ahmad that she reverts to the ruling of distinction in the second month, and repetition is not required. If menstruation begins and the bleeding does not cease, and she does not know her days, she refrains during the period when the blood is black, thick, and possesses odor. When these qualities depart and the odor disappears, she prays and fasts, as she is considered a woman experiencing abnormal bleeding (mustahadah) possessing distinction, reverting to her distinction as in the fourth month. Repetition is not required for distinction after she is known to be a mustahadah, as established.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi holds that she only refrains from the days that are repeated (i.e., that conform to the distinguishing feature). If she sees five days of red, then five days of black, followed by continuous red, she refrains during the time of the black blood, which is considered her menses, and the rest is abnormal bleeding (istihadhah). The question remains whether she refrains during the black blood in the second, third, or fourth month, which depends on the three narrated opinions regarding when distinction is established.