The Ruling on Yellow or Brownish Discharge After Taharah
Question:
If a yellow or brownish-coloured discharge comes out after taharah (that is, after the end of menstruation), what is its ruling?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The difficulties that women face regarding the rulings of menstruation are like an endless sea. One major cause of these is the use of contraceptive pills and pills that prevent menstruation. Many such complications are common today, which people in the past were not so familiar with. Although women have always faced these issues, today their number has grown so much that at times it seems difficult to find their solutions.
General Principle:
◈ When a woman becomes pure and observes definite taharah, that is, after the menstrual blood stops she sees white water, this is the sign of her purity.
◈ This white-water sign is known to almost all women.
◈ When this sign of taharah appears, the woman is considered pure and the rulings of purity apply to her.
Yellow or Brownish Discharge After Taharah:
◈ If yellow or brownish water, stains or moisture come out after taharah, it is not counted as menstruation.
Therefore:
✿ It does not prevent prayer.
✿ It does not prevent fasting.
✿ It does not prevent intercourse with one’s husband either.
Evidence:
Sahih al-Bukhari:
Umm Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
«كُنَّا لَا نَعُدُّ الصُّفْرَةَ وَالْكُدْرَةَ شَيْئًا»
That is:
“We did not regard yellow and brownish water as anything.”
Sunan Abi Dawood:
In the same narration there is this addition:
“After taharah, we did not regard brownish and yellow water as anything”
Precautionary Guidance:
◈ A woman should not be hasty, but should wait until she sees a clear sign of taharah.
◈ Some women perform ghusl when the blood lightens or without seeing the complete sign of taharah, which is not correct.
◈ The wives of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to send cotton to Umm al-Mu’minin Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) with brownish discharge on it, and Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) would say:
«لَا تَعْجَلْنَ حَتّٰی تَرَيْنَ الْفَضَّةَ الْبَيْضَاءَ»
That is:
“Do not be hasty until you see white water like silver.”
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
