A Question on Menstruation

Question : The questioner says: If a woman’s usual menstrual period is five days, and when she reached the age of forty-eight, her period stopped for months, then returned, sometimes lasting up to fourteen days, but after it returns, it lasts for about fourteen days, what is the ruling on these extra days?

Answer : If a woman’s blood stops for a long time and then comes to her in one of the months, heavy and abundant, then this blood that comes to her is considered her custom. A woman once asked me, saying that her custom regarding menstruation is to remain pure for four months, with no menstruation coming to her, and then menstruation comes to her for a full month. This is contrary to the custom, because the custom is that a woman menstruates every month and becomes pure. But this woman, by the permission of Allah the Exalted, has come to remain in her purity for four months and then menstruate for the entire fifth month, as if the menstruation gathers in the fifth month. So we tell this woman who has grown old and whose menstruation has been delayed for a long time and then comes to her for many days: these days are all menstruation.