Issues of Menstruation and Post-Natal Bleeding

Question : The questioner says: A woman, two months after post-natal bleeding, and after she had become pure, began to notice some small spots of blood. Does she break her fast and not pray, or what does she do?

Answer : Women’s problems regarding menstruation and post-natal bleeding are an ocean with no shore. One of the causes is the use of these contraceptive pills and pills that prevent menstruation. People did not know of such numerous issues before. It is true that the issue has existed since the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), indeed since women have existed, but its prevalence to the extent that an ordinary person stands bewildered in solving his problems is a matter of regret. However, the general rule is that if a woman becomes pure and sees the confirmed purity in menstruation and post-natal bleeding, and the sign of purity in menstruation is the emergence of the white discharge, which is a white fluid that women recognize, then any darkness, yellowness, spot, or moisture after purity is not menstruation. It does not prevent prayer, it does not prevent fasting, and it does not prevent a man from having intercourse with his wife, because it is not menstruation. Umm Atiyyah said: “We did not count yellowish or brownish discharge after purity as anything.” Al-Bukhari narrated: “We did not count yellowish or brownish discharge as anything.” Abu Dawud added “after purity,” and its chain is authentic. Accordingly, we say that anything that occurs after confirmed purity from these things does not harm the woman, nor does it prevent her prayer, fasting, or her husband’s intercourse with her. However, she must not rush until she sees the purity, because some women, when the blood dries up, hurry and perform the ritual bath before seeing the purity. For this reason, the women of the Companions would send to Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) the cotton containing the blood, and she would say to them: “Do not rush until you see the white discharge.”