What is the ruling on one who experienced bleeding after the puerperal period ended, so she abandoned prayer and fasting, thinking it was still lochia? Is she required to make up for those days? And what is the minimum period for the bleeding to stop before forty days, for a woman to be able to purify herself and pray?

Most scholars agree that the maximum period of post-natal bleeding (nifas) is forty days. If the bleeding exceeds this period and does not stop, it is considered menstruation (hayd) if it aligns with the woman's usual cycle and does not exceed it. In this case, she abstains from prayer and fasting, and only makes up for the missed fasting. However, if it does not align with her usual cycle and she cannot distinguish it, then it is considered irregular bleeding (istihada), and she is treated as being in a state of purity, and must make up for both missed prayers and fasting. If she abstained from prayer and fasting based on the opinion that the maximum period of nifas is sixty days, then she is not required to make up for the missed prayers. And whoever becomes pure before the forty days must perform ghusl (ritual purification) and is considered in a state of purity.