{And do not conceal testimony} (6). Menstruation lasting less than that has not been found as a continuous habit in any era, so it is not menstruation under any circumstances. The hadith of Wathilah is narrated by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Shami, who is weak, from Hammad ibn al-Minhal, who (7) is unknown (majhul). The hadith of Anas is narrated by (8) al-Jald ibn Ayyub, who is weak. Ibn Uyaynah said: "He is a narrator who has no basis (la asla lahu)." (9) Ahmad said regarding the hadith of Anas: "It is nothing; this is from the side of al-Jald ibn Ayyub." It was said: "Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated it," he said (10): "I do not think he heard it from anyone except al-Hasan ibn Dinar." He declared him extremely weak. He said: "Yazid ibn Zuray tells us: 'That is Abu Hanifah, he used no proof (hajja) except for al-Jald ibn Ayyub.'" [The hadith of al-Jald] (11) has been narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, which contradicts it, for he said: "Whatever exceeds fifteen [days] is irregular bleeding (istihadah), and the minimum of menstruation is a day and a night."
Section: The minimum period of purity (tuhr) between two menstrual cycles is thirteen days, because there is no disagreement in Ahmad's discourse that the waiting period ('iddah) is valid to be completed in one month if evidence is established for it. Ishaq said: "The timing of these [scholars] to fifteen [days] is invalid." Abu Bakr said: "The minimum period of purity is based upon the maximum of menstruation. If we say that its maximum is fifteen days, then the minimum of purity is fifteen days. If we say its maximum is seventeen, then the minimum of purity is thirteen days." This is as if he based it on the premise that a woman's month does not exceed thirty days, in which a menstrual cycle and a period of purity gather. However, if her month exceeds that, it is conceivable that her menstruation would be seventeen days and her purity fifteen days or more. Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Hanifah said: "The minimum period of purity is fifteen days." Abu Thawr mentioned that there is no disagreement among them regarding this. Our view is based on what was narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that a woman came to him, and...
(6) Surah al-Baqarah, 283. (7) Omitted from the original (al-asl). (8) In the original: 'rawahu'. (9) Al-Dhahabi quoted from Ibn Uyaynah his statement: 'Jald, and who is Jald, and who is Jald.' Mizan al-I'tidal 1/420. (10) In manuscript (M): 'qala'. (11) In the original: 'hadith al-hayd' [error]. (12) In manuscript (M): 'qala'. (13) Omitted from manuscript (M).