The expression “menstruating woman” refers to any adult woman who gets her menses monthly; it is a general characteristic for adult women. (1)
Umm Salamah was once asked: “with what should a muslim woman do her Sal?t? She said: ‘She should do her Sal?t wearing a khim?r and a wide Dir’which is long enough to cover her feet’. (2)
Im?m Ahmad was asked: ‘How many clothes should a muslim woman wear for Sal?t?’ He said: ‘Two clothes minimum; Dir’and Khim?r. The Dir’should be long enough to cover her feet’. (3)
Im?m Sh?fi‘? said: ‘when a woman intends to do her Sal?t, she should cover the whole of her body except her face and hands ...
The whole of the woman’s body, except hands and face, including her feet is considered as a private part. Regarding the obligation of covering one’s private parts in Sal?t, men and women
(1) “Bad?’I’ Al-Faw?’id” (vol. 3 / p.29), “Al-Majm?’“(vol. 3 / p. 166) and “Al- Tahm?d” (vol. 6 / p. 366)
(2) Narrated by: M?lik in his “Muwatta’ “(vol. 1 / p. 142), Al-Baihaq? in “As-Sunnan” Al-Kubr?” (vol. 1 / p. 232 - 33) and said: ‘It was also narrated by Bakr Ibn Mudar, Hafs Ibn Gayy?th, Ism?‘il Ibn Ja‘far and Muhammad Ibn Ish?q from Muhammad Ibn Zayd from his mother from Umm Salamah”.
An-Nawaw? considered this chain fo narration as good in his “Majm?’“(vol. 3 / p. 172). Abdul Haq held the poinion that this narration is traced back to Umm Salamah as is mentioned in “talkh?is Al-Habir” (vol. 1 / p. 280) and in “At-Tahm?d” by Ibn Abdul Bar (vol. 6 / p. 397). Abudul Rahm?n Ibn D?n?r traced the had?th to the prophet ( - ) as is mentioned by Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunan” (no. 640), Al-H?kim In his “Mustadrak” (vol. 1 / p. 250) and Al-Baihaq? in As-Sunan Al-kubr?” (vol. 2 / p. 233).
Ab? D?w?d said: ‘This had?th is narrated by M?lik, Ibn ’Anas, Bakr Ibn Mudar, Hafs Ibn Gayy?th, Ism?‘?l Ibn Ja‘far, Ibn Ab? Thi’b and Ibn Ish?q from Muhammad Ibn Zayd from His mother from Umm Salamah. Non of them traced this had?th back to the prophet ( - ), they only traced it back to Umm Salamah’.
(3) Mas?’il “Ibr?h?m Ibn H?ni’ ” by Im?m Ahmad (no. 286).