Menstruation and Prayer: Understanding the Islamic Rulings
Question: I had light spotting in the last week, waited for bleeding but none occurred. After seven days, I performed ghusl. Now, two days later, I have started bleeding. Should I stop praying now?
Answer: Sometimes, before menstruation begins, brownish discharge or spotting can appear. If this discharge occurs after a gap of a day or two from the regular menstrual flow, it is not considered part of the menstruation. In this case, it seems that the initial discharge was separate from the menstruation. However, if the blood now has the characteristics of menstrual blood—thick, foul-smelling, and dark—it is considered menstruation. In such cases, you should stop praying until the menstruation ends.
Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah
Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail