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This page is also available in Urdu language.
یہ صفحہ اردو میں بھی موجود ہے۔ زبان کی تبدیلی کے لیے نیچے بٹن دبائیں۔
Original First Question:
I need to know about menstruation, I do not know what to call it, the discharge I am having is red, foul-smelling, and is turning from red to brown. Is this menstruation or istihadah?
Clarification (Details asked from the questioner and the questioner’s answers):
To give a definitive ruling in your specific case, these details are essential:
- On what date did the previous menstruation end?
19/11/2025
- How many days of purity were there after that?
I have been in a state of purity since then until now.
- What is your fixed habit (number of days)?
There is no fixed habit.
- And for how many days has this current reddish/brownish discharge been?
For three days
- Has pure whiteness (discharge) come or not?
Whiteness has not come.
Based on these details, a final ruling of menstruation or istihadah can be determined for the blood or discharge you are experiencing.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ، اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1) Basic Principles Regarding Menstruation and Istihadah (According to Hanafi Jurisprudence Books/Fatawa)
- Shariah Ruling: Three days and three nights (72 hours), if it is less than this, it is not menstruation but istihadah. (Banuri University)
- Maximum Duration of Menstruation: Ten days.
- Minimum Purity (Tuhr) Between Two Menstruations: Fifteen days.
- Brown/muddy color (and similarly other colors) during the days of menstruation are counted as menstruation, and purity will be considered only when the pad/cloth comes out completely white/clean.
2) The Shariah Ruling of Menstruation on Your Described Situation
Is This Menstruation?
Yes — because your purity after 19/11/2025 has been far more than fifteen days, therefore the blood/colored discharge that has come now will constitute a new menstruation.
Now the decision will be based on duration:
(A) If This Discharge Completes or Has Completed 72 Hours (Three Days and Three Nights)
Then from the time it started until it stops (including the change from red to brown) all of it will be menstruation, provided it stops before 10 days.
Shariah Ruling: You cannot perform prayers/fasting during these days, and upon attaining purity after performing the ritual bath (ghusl), the prayers will be excused but the missed fasts will have to be made up (qada), therefore make them up as soon as possible.
(B) If This Discharge Stops Before Completing 72 Hours
Then it is not menstruation but istihadah. (darulifta-deoband.com)
Shariah Ruling: Prayers/fasting will be obligatory, and if you have missed prayers during these days, you must make them up (qada).
(C) If This Discharge/Blood Exceeds 10 Days (And Your “Habit” is Not Fixed)
Since you mentioned that your habit is not fixed, in this case the first 10 days will be menstruation and the blood coming after that will be istihadah; upon completing 10 days, perform the ritual bath (ghusl) and start praying, even if the blood continues.
3) Method of Worship in the State of Istihadah (Summary)
In istihadah, a woman will perform prayers and also keep fasts. If the blood flows continuously in such a way that there is no opportunity to become pure and perform the obligatory prayer at its time, then she will be considered under the ruling of “one with an excuse” (ma’dhur) and will perform a new ablution (wudu) for each prayer time; otherwise, in the normal state, the ablution will break due to the blood flow and a new ablution will have to be performed. (Banuri University)
If you wish, you can just note these two additional things (for yourself): The exact time (hour) the blood started and whether it stopped before completing 72 hours or not—based on this, the ruling of “menstruation or istihadah” will become completely clear for you.
وَاللّٰہُ اَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
