The Ruling on the Blood of Purity and Distinguishing Between Menstruation and Irregular Non-Menstrual Bleeding

Question:
May Allah reward you. Umm Ziyad from Riyadh says: A woman, approximately forty-five years old, has been complaining for four years. Her period lasts four, five, or six days, varying at times. However, a week after her period ends, blood returns in the form of drops for ten or fifteen days, then stops one or two days before her next period. She has consulted doctors during these years. Some said the problem is due to hormonal imbalance. Others said it is due to age, as hormonal disturbances occur after forty. Some did not suspect anything after conducting tests and do not know the cause. She was given medication, but her condition did not improve. When she asks the female doctors whether that period is a period or not, they do not answer because they do not know. Please issue a ruling, Honorable Shaykh Salih, in this case.

Answer:
Allah the Exalted said: It is a hardship, and it involves difficulty and embarrassment for the woman, and it involves changes and disturbances, fear, and a test. But the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) established and advised a path for the Muslim woman to follow regarding the state of ihram. First, if she has a settled custom, which is what is called the monthly period, a settled custom, and blood starts for her and does not stop, then she sits out her custom, then she performs the full ritual bath afterwards and prays, even if she has a pad, because what goes beyond the custom is considered bleeding and not menstruation. This is the first case. The second case is if she does not know the custom or has forgotten it, whether she has suffered from it or forgotten it, then she looks at the color of the blood. If its color is the color of menstrual blood, meaning it is black and thick, or it is stagnant and known, meaning it has a foul smell, then it is menstruation. If it is foul, then it is irregular non-menstrual bleeding. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is known, meaning it has a strong smell. This is what is called by the scholars distinguishing (al-tamyiz). If she can distinguish menstrual blood from non-menstrual blood, then she sits out the menstrual blood by its signs. The third case is if she does not have a known custom and does not have a means of distinction, and the blood flows in one color that is not the color of menstrual blood, then she sits out the majority of menstruation, six or seven days of every month, then she performs the full ritual bath and prays. These are the guidelines that came in the authentic hadiths from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.