The Ruling on a Woman Who Experiences Black Blood Before Her Menstruation, Connected to It

Question:
A questioner asks, saying: A woman experiences black blood that lasts with her for six days before her menstruation, then her menstruation comes for seven days. Does she pray and fast during the first days?

Answer:
Is it separate? Is it her custom that this comes connected with her menstruation?
The student: The blood is black for six days, less than her menstruation, then her menstruation comes for seven days.
The Shaykh: Is there a break between them?
Q: The apparent indication of his question is that it is connected.
The Shaykh: He comes to ask me. This requires consideration. If it is her custom, then it is her custom. If it is an occasional occurrence, then no. The criterion is her custom. If it is her consistent custom: the first six days are black, then the rest are red, for a continuous duration, then it becomes her custom.
Q: Okay, and if it is separate?
The Shaykh: If it is an occasional occurrence, no, it does not become her custom. If it is occasional, it is from irregular non-menstrual bleeding.
Q: Is an occasional occurrence acceptable to you, if the occasional occurrence adds one day?
The Shaykh: The one that is not her custom, I mean.
Q: I say her custom is seven, but in one instance it connected for eight, or...?
The Shaykh: It does not harm if it is connected and nothing is distinct; the matter is easy, because the custom of women increases and decreases, as Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Do not be hasty" when the reports were presented to her.