Discolored Discharge

Question:

A woman usually experiences discharge on a regular basis. When she has her haiz and when on the last days when her colour is no longer light red/pink, but she has yellow discharge little more than the normal discharge. She is confused as does she have to wait till the yellow also clears or will that be regarded as discharge?

 

Answered by Ustadha Umm Yusuf Abdul Sattar
Verified by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Generally, as long as a woman discerns any color (black, brown, green, red or yellow) within the days of menstruation, it will be considered menstrual blood. When the discharge is clear or white, or there is an absence of discharge altogether, menstruation has ended.

You mentioned discharge on a regular basis; we would need to know the color of the discharge during the days of purity. If the discharge is regularly yellow, then it will not be considered menstruation, irrespective of the amount. However, if the discharge is not yellow during the days of purity, and is only yellow during the last days of menstruation, it will be considered menstruation.

Ustadha Umm Yusuf Abdul Sattar

Follow up question:

The normal discharge is yellow.

Answer:

Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Given that the discharge is regularly yellow, it will not be considered menstruation, irrespective of the amount. However, yellow discharge is considered impure and will nullify one’s ablution. Before each prayer, you should perform istinja, as well as a fresh ablution. When determining the color of discharge, a woman should look immediately after it exits from the vaginal opening, as it oxidizes and changes color with time. A kursuf, a small piece of cotton placed at the vaginal opening, can be helpful in determining the color of the discharge.

Ustadha Umm Yusuf Abdul Sattar