664 - Hannad narrated to us, he said: Abu Mu'awiya narrated to us, from Hajjaj, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, who said: "The menstruating woman and the person in a state of janaba should wash their hair but do not need to unbraid it."

Chapter: A woman who incurs janaba then menstruates before performing ghusl

• I asked Ahmad about a woman who incurred janaba, then menstruated before she performed ghusl: Should she perform ghusl for the janaba? He said: "If she does so, it is fine; otherwise, there is no obligation upon her."

• I asked Ishaq, I said: A woman who menstruates, does she perform ghusl? He said: "She does not perform ghusl."

Chapter: A woman who experiences istihada (irregular bleeding) and forgets her menstrual days

• I asked Ahmad, I said: A woman who experiences istihada and forgets the days of her cycles? He said: "There is no established ruling for this," and he did not provide an answer regarding it.

• I heard Ishaq say: "If her menstruation is irregular and she experiences istihada, then what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) decreed in the case of Hamna bint Jahsh—when she informed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that her menstruation was confused and that she could not recall her cycles—is that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fixed for her seven days. She should exercise her best judgment regarding her days based on her knowledge, sitting [away from prayer] in accordance with her estimation of her menses during those days as she knows them, then she performs ghusl, fasts, and prays for twenty-three days. That represents one menses and one period of purity in a single month. The Sunnah has clarified that prayer is not to be abandoned except for clear, recognized menstruation."