One of the sisters experienced bleeding for a period of approximately twenty days and did not pray. Does she have to make up the prayers, or what should she do?

The questioner : The questioner says: One of the sisters experienced bleeding for a period of approximately twenty days and did not pray. Does she have to make up the prayers, or what should she do? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : We must know the cause of this bleeding: whether it was a miscarriage, an illness, carrying something heavy, or something similar. If it has a cause, it is given the ruling of that cause. If the cause was a pregnancy and the fetus was aborted and had formed—meaning its form was distinct, with its head, hands, and feet differentiated—then this blood is post-natal bleeding, and it is given the ruling of major post-natal bleeding. If the cause was an illness, then this is not menstrual blood nor post-natal blood, but rather blood whose ruling is the ruling of irregular non-menstrual bleeding, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the blood of irregular non-menstrual bleeding: Likewise, if the cause was carrying something heavy, it is not menstruation. However, if her customary days have passed, she should sit for the duration of her custom, then perform the full ritual bath and pray. This questioner says that she experienced bleeding for twenty days, so let her apply this bleeding according to the details we have mentioned.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.