Women’s Issues Made Simple Author: Batool S. Arastu Women’s Issues Publisher: Salman Azad Publications Quantity: 1000

Made Simple ISBN 964-90118-1-1

Press: Baqiri This edition first published 2006 All rights recorded and reserved for the author

by

Batool S. Arastu

Nifas (Blood of Childbirth)...... 30 Contents Fasting Related Issues...... 37 1. Fasting and Istihadha...... 37 Contents...... iii 2. Fasting and Haidh...... 37 3. Ramadhan and Janabat...... 39 Author’s Preface...... v Miscellaneous Issues...... 41 Introduction...... vii 1. (Ritual Bath)...... 41 2. Dress Code, Hijab (Islamic Covering)...... 42 Preamble...... 1 3. Mahram and Non-Mahram...... 42 4. Menopause...... 44 Different Kinds of Blood Seen by a ...... 1 Glossary of Terms...... 48 Istihadha...... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1. Verification...... 2 References...... 53 2. Signs of Istihadha...... 2 3. Types of Istihadha...... 3 Index...... 54 4. Rules of Istihadha...... 4 5. Change of Intensity of Blood Flow...... 7 6. Fasting during Istihadha:...... 9 7. Sex during Istihadha:...... 10 8. Miscellaneous Points regarding Istihadha...... 11

Haidh ( or Period)...... 12 1. Verification...... 12 2. Signs...... 13 3. Ensuring it is Haidh...... 13 4. Categories of women...... 14 5. Rules for a Woman in Menses...... 16 6. Different Types of Menstruation...... 26 7. Qadha Salat...... 27 8. Things that are Haram in ‘Haidh’ (Menses):...... 28 9. Miscellaneous Points regarding Haidh...... 29

iii iv Author’s Preface well, that I started loving this subject so much I decided to write about it!

Before I came to Qum I had many questions regarding spe- I would also like to thank my husband who encouraged cific issues related to women, the Islamic rules women and helped me a great deal. must follow. One of the main issues all women face is that of different blood cycles. There are a lot of Fiqh (Jurispru- My sincere thanks to Brother Shuja Ali Mirza for all the dence) books that cover these sensitive topics for women, help and input. but I often found them very confusing for myself. Alham- dulillah, joining the Houza (Seminary) in Qum helped me I would like to dedicate this book to my late mother, Syeda in understanding these confusing issues. Apart from want- Rabab Sultana Razavi and my late mother in law Tahera ing to share what I learnt, I wanted to make my life easy so Begum Arastu. I decided to write a very simple book that talks mainly about different issues women face. Batool Arastu

Qum, Shawwal 15, 1426/ November 18, 2005 In this book we will be mainly discussing different blood cycles and the different women who are special in their own way. When you read this book you will be able to figure out what kind of a blood cycle you have and In- shaAllah you will be able to perform your duties as per the laws of , which is obligatory on all of us.

This book is written according to the rulings of Ayatullah Khomeini and Ayatullah Seestani. Although most of the Maraaji’ have similar views on these issues, it is important that sisters who follow other Maraaji’ should check with their own Marja`, because there may be minor differences in the rulings.

I would like to thank my teacher Khanum Ferozi (from Jum`iat al-Zahra), who is such a great teacher. I used to dislike the subject of Fiqh, but Khanum Ferozi taught us so

v v i Introduction tives cover man’s three aspects of body, soul or mind, and spirit. Among them there are those that deal with doctrine,

beliefs, and man’s intellectual life. Others pertain to his All things are from God and to Him they all return. God heart and soul, and define the proper emotional etiquette as the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of creation, presides that he is to follow as a moral being in the path of self- over its origin, unfolding, and end result