What is the maximum duration of menstruation?

Question : Honorable Shaykh. Many women ask about the maximum duration of menstruation, and whether, if blood comes out in a small amount only when relieving oneself, is it necessary to break the fast and make it up? And if blood comes out on days other than the days of menstruation, is it a barrier to prayer and fasting? I ask for a detailed explanation, may Allah preserve you.

Answer : The correct view is that there is no minimum limit for menstruation, and no maximum limit, except that if the blood exceeds the maximum duration, she is a woman with irregular bleeding. This is because some women have few days of menstruation, and some have many days. Indeed, some women remain in a state of purity for three months and then menstruate for the entire fourth month, so it is as if the blood, by the permission of Allah, accumulates and comes out at one time. In any case, we say that the default ruling for blood that affects a woman is that it is menstruation until evidence establishes that it is not menstruation. If a woman sees blood and her custom is to menstruate for six days, but it increases to ten, she observes these ten days. If it increases to more than fifteen, she does not observe what exceeds the fifteen days, because if her blood exceeds fifteen days, she becomes a woman with irregular bleeding, even if most of her time is spent menstruating. So she is a woman with irregular bleeding, and a woman with irregular bleeding observes only the duration of her usual days, then she takes a full ritual bath and prays, even if the blood is flowing.
As for the blood that appears after purity, but not in the manner of menstruation, such as a drop or two, or a discharge, or a brownish substance, or something similar, this is not menstruation. It does not prevent a woman from prayer, fasting, or intercourse with her husband. May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh.