At What Age Does Menstruation Ceases Permanently and Never Returns?
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “There is no specific age limit at which a woman stops menstruating, rather if after sixty or seventy years she saw the well-known blood from the womb, it would be considered menstruation. The stage – at which a woman no longer menstruates – mentioned in Allaah’s statement- [ وَاللَّائِي يَئِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ – And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses] is not about a specific age, because if it were a specific age, then Allaah and His Messenger would have clarified it; but rather it is when a woman herself stops menstruating. If her menstrual blood ceases and does not return (permanently), then indeed she is considered to be one who has reached the stage at which a woman no longer menstruates, even if she is 40 years old; but if she waits for a time period and the blood returns, then it becomes the fact that she did not reach that stage”. (1)
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] was asked: If a woman reaches the age at which she stops menstruating, her periods begin to come at prolonged intervals, after three months or more, and it occurs for six days; is this considered part of her menstrual circle and does she make up the prayers when he is cleanse of (menstruation)?
Answer: Women are different (in this affair). Some of them them stop menstruation at an early age, and some of them their menstruation carries on until after sixty or seventy years. However, whenever a woman sees menstrual blood, she is considered a menstruating woman regardless of the circumstances she is in, because Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted] said: [واللآئي يئسن من المحيض – And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses]; so Allaah did not specify a specific age, because the stage at which a woman stops menstruating varies among women. In conclusion, menstrual blood, as Allaah [The Exalted] described, is أذى [a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses], so when this blood appears, it becomes obligated on her to do what it necessitates (i.e. stop praying and refrain from sexual intercourse). (2)
Prophet Ibraaheem’s Wife Conceived at a Very Old Age
And verily, there came Our Messengers to Ibrahim (Abraham) with glad tidings. They said: Salam (greetings or peace!) He answered, Salam (greetings or peace!) and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. (see footnote a) But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. (see footnote a) They said: “Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lout (Lot).” And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lout (Lot).
But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaque (Isaac), and after him, of Ya’qub (Jacob). She said (in astonishment): “Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!” They said: “Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim (Abraham)]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.”
Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim (Abraham), and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our Messengers) for the people of Lout (Lot). Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah all the time, again and again). “O Ibrahim (Abraham)! Forsake this. Indeed, the Commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back.” And when Our Messengers came to Lout (Lot), he was grieved on their account and felt himself straitened for them (lest the town people should approach them to commit sodomy with them). He said: “This is a distressful day.” And his people came rushing towards him, and since aforetime they used to commit crimes (sodomy, etc.), he said: “O my people! Here are my daughters (i.e. the daughters of my nation), they are purer for you (if you marry them lawfully). So fear Allah and degrade me not as regards my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?” They said: “Surely you know that we have neither any desire nor in need of your daughters, and indeed you know well what we want!” He said: “Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support (to resist you).” They (Messengers) said: “O Lout (Lot)! Verily, we are the Messengers from your Lord! They shall not reach you! So travel with your family in a part of the night, and let not any of you look back, but your wife (will remain behind), verily, the punishment which will afflict them, will afflict her. Indeed, morning is their appointed time. Is not the morning near?” So when Our Commandment came, We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down, and rained on them stones of baked clay, piled up; marked from your Lord, and they are not ever far from the Zalimun (polytheists, evil-doers, etc.). [Surah Hud. Aayaat 69-83] (see footnote b)
Read: Family: [The Number of Children We Want, Giving The Wife a Break to Recover Properly Before The Birth of Another Child etc] – By Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him]:
Family: [The Number of Children We Want, Giving The Wife a Break to Recover Properly Before The Birth of Another Child etc] – By Shaikh Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz
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Footnote a:
Hosts and Guests – [Etiquettes to Learn From Ibraaheem’s (alayhis salaam) Hospitality]:
Hosts and Guests – [Etiquettes to Learn From Ibraaheem’s (alayhis salaam) Hospitality]
Footnote b:
Islam and Homosexuality: What happened in Sodom and Gomorrah? The Prophet Lot (Lūt) and his Daughters: In the Bible and the Qur’an.
https://archive.org/details/islam-homosexuality-book
[Ref 1: Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 19/240]
[Ref 2: Fataawaa Noor Alad Darb. Cassette Number 350]
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