other than it, so her entire time is doubtful. Aisha has narrated that Umm Habiba experienced istihada for seven years, so she asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and he ordered her to perform ghusl, [and she used to perform ghusl] (1) for every prayer. Agreed upon (2). As for our evidence, it is what Hamna bint Jahsh narrated. She said: "I was experiencing a large and intense bout of istihada, so I came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to ask him for a legal opinion, and I found him in the house of my sister, Zaynab bint Jahsh. I said: O Messenger of Allah, I am experiencing a large and intense bout of istihada. What do you command me regarding it? It has prevented me from fasting and praying." He said: "I suggest to you the karsuf (cotton) (3), for it removes the blood." I said: "It is more than that; I am gushing with it (4)." The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) then said: "I will command you with two matters; whichever of them you perform, it shall suffice you. If you are strong enough to perform both, then you know best." He then said to her (5): "It is but a kick from the devil. So, menstruate for six days (6) or seven days, according to the knowledge of Allah, then perform ghusl. When you see that you have become pure and cleansed, pray for twenty-four nights or twenty-three nights and their days, and fast, for that will suffice you. And do so [every month], just as women menstruate and just as they become pure at the time of their menstruation and their purity. If you are strong enough to delay the Dhuhr and hasten the Asr, [then perform ghusl until you are pure] (7),
(1) Omitted from M. (2) Reported by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on the Sweat of Istihada, from the Book of Menstruation. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/89, 90. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Woman Experiencing Istihada, her Ghusl, and her Prayer, from the Book of Menstruation 1/263. It was also reported by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter [on whoever said] when the menstruation approaches, she should leave the prayer, and The Chapter on whoever narrated that the woman experiencing istihada performs ghusl for every prayer, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/66, 68. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on what has come regarding the woman experiencing istihada, that she performs ghusl for every prayer, from the Chapters of Purification. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 1/207. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Mention of Ghusl from Menstruation, and The Chapter on the Mention of the Periods (aqra'), from the Book of Purification, and in: The Chapter on the Mention of the Periods, from the Book of Menstruation. Al-Mujtaba 1/98, 100, 149. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on what has come regarding the woman experiencing istihada if the blood is mixed for her and she does not know her days of menstruation, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/205. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Ghusl of the woman experiencing istihada, from the Book of Purification. Sunan al-Darimi 1/200. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/82, 83, 141, 187, 434. (3) Karsuf: cotton. (4) Al-thajj: the flowing of the blood of the sacrificial animal. (5) Omitted from the original. (6) Omitted from M. (7) In the original: "then perform ghusl until you become pure."
