The ruling on the dark discharge that comes before or after menstruation

Question:
May Allah reward you with good. Another sister, who has coded her name with Faa, Faa, Faa, says: My question, Honorable Shaykh, is about menstruation. She says that when her period is due, she feels pain in her abdomen before it, followed by a dark discharge. This dark discharge lasts, for example, from dawn until night, and then the normal blood comes down. She asks: Do I pray during the time of the dark discharge or not? Knowing that I do not use birth control pills. May Allah reward you.

Answer:
The dark discharge that is connected to menstruation, or occurs during menstruation—whether it is before, after, or during the period—is all part of the menstruation. Therefore, you do not pray during the time of the dark discharge, as long as it is connected to the menstruation, because it is part of it and is its beginning, so you do not pray during it.