What Is The Ruling Of Coloured Discharge If Seen Within The Days Of Menstruation?

Question:

I would like to know what to do in the following scenario:

A woman has her menstrual period for 7 days and sees a sign of purity at the end-no blood/coloured stain on cotton inserted inside. She performs ghusl and starts praying.

The next day she has some slight browny/yellow discharge when going to the toilet.

As she has established a sign of purity already, does she ignore this and just perform Wudhu?

Or as she is within 10 days, does she have to do Ghusl again?

Basically, I am confused if any discharge after becoming pure but within the 10 days is classed as menstruation or not.

I think it is correct that if blood appeared the next day, this would be classed as menstruation and Ghusl would be needed but I am not sure about the discharge.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In principle, any coloured discharge (with the exception of pure white) that appears within the days of Haidh is considered menstrual blood. Hence, the brown/yellow coloured discharge that appeared on the 8^th day is considered Haidh (menstruation).[1]

Note that if the colour of the discharge changes due to becoming dry, the initial colour upon discharge is considered. For example, if the discharge was pure white and after drying it turned brown or yellow, this is not considered Haidh even if it appears within the days of Haidh.[2]

The monthly menstrual habit of the woman in reference was 7 days. If she has experienced 8 days menstruation the next month, her new habit is 8 days. In principle, if there is a change in the number of days in a monthly cycle, the new cycle will be considered as the Haidh period on condition it is within 10 days.[3]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.