Assalamu alaykum,
After menstruating, what should a woman do with her sanitary pads? Should she wash them and can she throw them in a rubbish bin?
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
The sanitary pads should be buried, and not disposed of in the rubbish bin. Although it would not be necessary to wash them before burying them, it would be better. Washing the blood off will prevent animals from digging them up. It is also said that certain evil elements utilize the blood-stained pads for purposes of witchcraft. Washing the pads would safeguard you against becoming a victim of such witchcraft too.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)