A Haidh Conundrum – No Bleeding, Yet Haidh!?

Expected haidh is the first 5 days of each month. However, on a particular month bleeding started 5 days before the expected haidh days.

During the expected 5 days, she was clean – no bleeding, no spotting at all. After these 5 days there was 1 day of bleeding.

The Mas-alah in this case is as follows:

• In view of the clean period (5 days) being less than 15 days, she, in effect, ‘bled’ for 11 days.
• The rule is that more than 10 days of bleeding does not change one’s habitual cycle.
• She, therefore, falls back onto her aadat which is the first 5 days of the month.
• Her haidh, therefore, remains the 5 days at the beginning of the month.
• There is absolutely no change in her aadat.
• The 5 days of bleeding before the month began are istihaadhah.
• Similarly, the 1 day of bleeding after the 5 days at the beginning of the month is istihaadhah.

(Manhalul Waarideen)