Reply to an Objection Raised by the Sheikhul Hadith and Mufti of a Daarul Uloom concerning a Fatwa stated in Fataawaa Raheemiyyah

Q: Taharaat-38: A Fatwa in a previous volume of Fataawaa Raheemiyyah states that according to the Hanafi jurisprudence,, even in the extreme case when the child's head has emerged and the time for salaah is on the verge of expiring, it will be binding on the woman to perform her salaah. If she is unable to perform wudhu, she should perform Tayammum and if she is unable to make Ruku, she should perform salaah with indications, taking care not to harm the child in any way. She can, however, not afford to miss her salaah.

I have read the entire answer, but wish to point out that when a woman is delivering a child, the blood of Nifaas will be pouring out. How can she possibly perform salaah in her state of impurity?

Answer: This blood is not the blood of Nifaas because it will be classified as Nifaas only when half or more than half the body has emerged. At this stage it will be Istihaadha, so the woman will not be impure, but a Ma'zoor. She will therefore be unable to miss the salaah and will have to perform it if there is no threat to the child's life.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2