QUESTION:
It is said a woman should not leave her home for 40 days after giving birth. Please can you provide a further explanation as to whether there is any truth in the above statement?
ANSWER:
It is a misconception. Women are allowed to leave their houses if needed. Yes, generally, women shouldn’t leave their houses unnecessarily.
The 40 days misconception probably derived from the ruling of post-natal bleeding (Nifās).
The ruling is that the maximum number of days of Nifās is 40 days; however, there is no minimum period. So if the bleeding stopped after 20 days, then she will purify herself and start praying her Şalāh or fast (if it is the month of Ramađān) and not wait for 40 days (this is another misconception among women. They will become sinful of missing their prayers etc.).
[General books of Fiqh]
Allah knows best.
Answered by Mawlana Mohamed Husein Qadri
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