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Fatwa CenterDischarge during days of delayed menses
Question
A woman was certain that her period would be delayed by at least five days because she was taking a sort of medication to cause that. Two days before her original date (had she not been taking medicine), she started getting yellow discharge with cramps, but she was sure that she would not get her period for at least a week. The first two days, she got this dark-yellow discharge with only a drop of blood, so she checked with two doctors, and they said that in no way did that indicate shedding of the uterus lining and they confirmed that she was not menstruating. The yellow discharge in the event of delayed periods indicates the change in hormonal balance, and this is true, because it also happened when she took pills for ‘Umrah for over 10 days, her period was delayed, but she was getting dark-yellow discharge on all those days until she stopped taking those pills, so she considered that one drop of blood Istihaadhah (bleeding outside of the menses). After these two days, she remembered that she started getting regular discharge, which is white with a little yellow shade (this is how it normally remains during the days purity). So now she was sure that what happened on the first two days of discharge was not menses, so she neither performed Ghusl (ritual bath) nor stopped praying and fasting, and this regular discharge continued for at least four days. So after these seven days, she got her regular menstrual discharge, which is yellow with a brown shade, and then she stopped all acts of worship. Now she feel really disturbed, and she wants to ask about the first two days of yellow discharge; was it menses? Was she supposed to perform Ghusl when her discharge became regular for 4 days? Does she need to repeat the prayers performed during those four days? She also observed I‘tikaaf (ritual seclusion) during the days in which she had regular discharge, so is she sinful for her stay in the masjid?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The most likely correct view is that this yellowish discharge accompanied by blood is considered menses, because if the menstrual bleeding starts right after the emission of the yellowish discharges in a period of time that may be regarded as menses, then it is considered as menses according to the majority of scholars. The Hanbalis, on the other hand, held that what that woman saw of yellowish discharge or otherwise is not considered menses because it was not emitted during the time of the regular period.
The view adopted at Islamweb is that of the majority of the scholars. Therefore, it is safer to make up for the fasting of these two days if that fasting was obligatory. She should also make up for the prayers of the four following days, which are considered days of ritual purity within the days of menses according to the preponderant view adopted at Islamweb. This is more prudent in terms of clearing herself of her liability from this obligation, but she should keep in mind that the scholars held different views in this regard, as we mentioned above.
Allah knows best.
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