Is what the questioner did—fasting and praying during what she considered to be istihada (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding)—correct? Is she sinful if it was not correct? Is it permissible for her to delay making up the days she fasted while menstruating (if makeup is necessary) until after fasting the six days of Shawwal?

The maximum duration of menstruation is fifteen days. If the blood exceeds this period, the woman is considered to be in a state of istihada (non-menstrual bleeding). In this case, since the total number of bleeding days and the interspersed clean days exceeded fifteen days, the questioner is in a state of istihada. Scholars have differed on what is incumbent upon her. Some believe that she must refrain from fasting and prayer until the blood exceeds fifteen days, after which she becomes a mustahada. The Hanbalis, however, are of the view that a habit is only established by its repetition three times. If the blood exceeds the customary period, she should perform ghusl, fast, and pray until the excess beyond her habit is repeated three times. Based on the Hanbali madhhab, the questioner is required to make up the prayers for the two days that exceeded her usual period, and to make up only the nine days she missed fasting. As for her fasting other than that, it is valid, because the blood that returns after the clean days is considered istihada blood.