I suffer from inflammation of the urinary tract, and there are colored discharges that include blood at times other than that of the menstrual period. I have consulted my female doctor, she told me that it is just an inflammation and not a period. Are my fasting and prayer valid?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, you should know that menstruation according to the sharia terminology is the blood that flows from the bottom of a woman's womb when she reaches the age of religious accountability, and is neither post-partum bleeding nor istihaadhah (i.e. vaginal bleeding outside the menstrual period).

Muslim scholars have agreed that there are three types of blood that comes out from a woman's vagina: “The blood of menstruation, post-partum bleeding and istihaadhah.”

Accordingly, regular blood that is not caused by illness or injury is the blood of menstruation, and the blood that is caused by delivery is post-partum bleeding. However, the blood that comes out without menstruation or pregnancy but, rather, from an illness is istihaadhah.

Hence, you have come to know that the blood that comes out along with discharges is not menstrual blood. As long as you have a regular period of a known duration, then the blood that comes outside this duration is not menstrual blood, unless it flows continuously and has the signs that distinguish menstruation from other blood. However, it invalidates ablution, and you have to purify the area where it flows from and use a sanitary towel or the like and perform ablution for every prayer. This is based on the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Fatima bin Hubaish, who suffered an irregular bleeding: “… perform ablution for every prayer and then offer prayer.” [At-Tirmithi: sound]

Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Let her tie a cloth over her private parts and then pray.” [Abu Daawood]

Accordingly, you are like pure women regarding the obligation of the acts of worship and observing them.

Allaah Knows best.