Qatadah said regarding women in postnatal bleeding that their purification is like that of women similar to them.

It is narrated from Imam Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, regarding women in the state of nifas (postnatal bleeding) that they will refrain from prayer for forty days. If they become pure within forty days, that is fine; otherwise, they will refrain from prayer for another five or six days. (After 45 days) if they become pure, that is fine; otherwise, they will refrain from prayer for another period from 45 to 50 days. Then, if they become pure, that is fine; otherwise, they will be counted among those with istihada (irregular bleeding).

Uthman bin Abi al-As would not go near a woman in postpartum bleeding for forty days (i.e., he would abstain from intercourse). And Imam Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Women in postpartum bleeding are from forty-five to fifty days, after that they will be considered as mustahadah (women with irregular bleeding).

Uthman bin Abi al-As said: The period of nifas (postnatal bleeding) is forty days; if she becomes pure before that, then fine, otherwise she should pray, and she should not exceed this period.

Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If the customary period for a woman in postnatal bleeding is known, then that is fine; otherwise, she will remain (in waiting) for forty days.

Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Nifas is the same as menstruation. (That is, its ruling is the same as the ruling of menstruation).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): Women experiencing postnatal bleeding will wait for approximately forty days.