Does your husband understand the jurisprudence of women’s blood? This is the Minimum Standard from Imam Al-Ghazali

Living a comfortable, calm and happy domestic life is the dream of every married couple, especially Muslims. In Muslim families, there are several things that husband and wife must pay attention to, one of which is who is most responsible for menstruation, postpartum and istikhadloh matters.

Generally, before a woman gets married, discussing menstruation and istikhadloh are things that a woman must know and learn about, because she will definitely experience it. So, when a woman has a domestic relationship with her husband, who is most responsible for teaching about blood issues that women excrete (menstruation, postpartum and istikhadloh)?

Husbands Must Teach Menstruation Science

Islamic ArgumentationAbi Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Ghazali, or what we know better as Imam al-Ghazali, outlined the answer to the question above in his Masterpice book entitled It was al-Ulum al-Dinnehere’s the diction:

A married man must learn the science of menstruation and its laws, which he must observe, and teach his wife about the laws of prayer, what must be said during menstruation, and what must not be done, because he is commanded to protect his wife from hell, according to the words of the Almighty {Protect yourself and your family from the fire of hell} So he must teach her the Sunni faith and remove from her heart all error if she listens to it, and make her fear God if she is negligent. in religious matters, and teaching him about the laws of menstruation and the istihaadah that he needs, and the knowledge of istihaadah takes a long time. As for what women must follow when it comes to menstruation, explaining the prayers that they must make up, even if the bleeding stops before sunset for one rak’ah, then they must make up for the noon and noon prayers, and if it stops before dawn for one rak’ah, then they must make up for it. Maghrib and dinner, and these are the things that women pay the least attention to. If the man is teaching her, then she should not go out to ask the cleric.

Imam Ghazali said that the first person responsible is the husband. The standard set for a husband in the household regarding blood issues is that the husband is expected to teach his wife issues related to menstruation and its laws, as well as issues of istikhadloh. And also, which is no less important, the husband is expected to teach his wife about prayer issues related to blood matters. Imam Ghazali gave an example: when there is blood clot before sunset to the level of being able to pray one rak’ah, then the obligatory prayer isWhat is it are Dluhur and Asr. Likewise, if you are clogged before dawn and are able to pray one rak’ah, then you have to pray.What is it are Maghrib and Isha’. These are the standards that must be met by husbands when married regarding blood issues. When the husband is able to teach it, the wife is not allowed to go out and ask the ulama about blood.

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If your husband doesn’t have knowledge about menstruation

So, what happens to husbands who have limited knowledge regarding blood problems? Imam al-Ghazali said:

If the man’s knowledge is limited, but the man takes his place in the question and tells him the mufti’s answer, then the woman has no right to leave. If this is not the case, then the woman has the right to come out and ask, but she has to do it, and the man is disobeying her by preventing her. However much she learns what is obligatory for her, she is not allowed to go to men’s gatherings or learn any virtue except with the consent of men. And no matter how much a woman ignores one of the laws of menstruation and istihaadah, and a man does not teach her, then the man will be ashamed of her and join in the sin with her.

When the husband has limited knowledge regarding blood problems, the husband must seek answers from the person who gave the fatwa (Mufti) then reported the results of the answer to his wife. And when the husband is unable or reluctant to find an answer, the wife is obliged to ask and seek the answer to this matter through a place of study, with a note of permission from her husband. And the husband was considered a sinner when he forbade it. And when the husband has limited knowledge and is reluctant to find answers, and the wife is also reluctant to learn them, then both are considered sinners.

From Imam al-Ghazali’s explanation, it can be concluded that the husband is the first person responsible for blood problems in the household. However, it does not rule out the possibility for women to continue studying it even before getting married. Because we will never know who we will build a household with in the future.

Also Read: Menstrual Blood Stops at Asr Time, Is Qodho’ Obligatory for Midday Prayers?

Author: Muhammad Habib Al Ansori