Question

al-Salam ‘alaykum, 

The standard rule I have learned is that any colored discharge seen after 15 days of tuhr is considered one’s hayd. After seeing this color, one must not pray or fast for a minimum of 3 days. If no colored discharge is seen at the conclusion of the third day, then this was a “false alarm” of sorts and is not considered one’s legal hayd. The missing prayers & fasts must then be made up. 

Do the following situations fall within the above hukm? How do they impact one’s Taharah, and what should a woman do when experiencing one of the following situations? Is one’s menstrual habit a factor?

1. Colored discharge that is caused by external factors/is a one-time occurrence. For example: intense exercise or lifting something heavy can result in the discharge of blood or brown spotting. This is typically a one-time occurrence and does not continue flowing. 
2. Light yellow discharge that is seen often. It is technically a “color” and not exactly white or clear (but comes close to white). 
3. Regular white/light yellow discharge seen with a thin line of red, or is a pinkish color. The person is sure that this is just discharge and it isn’t following/preceding ones menstrual cycle. 

Additionally, could you please confirm the ruling for day-to-day discharge that is clear or white?

I have heard that discharge is typically pure. I have also seen that the tahārah of the dischargedepends on where it was originally produced, and anything produced beyond the vagina (like the cervix or uterus) would invalidate one’s wudū’. If this is the case, then typical discharge would not be pure as it is likely produced in the cervix. 

Answer

Waʿalaykum al-Salām wa Raḥmat Allah wa Barakātu-h.

In the Name of Allah the Gracious, the Merciful.

For normal vaginal discharge: if its color is white - not pink or brown - it is pure and does not break wuḍūʾ. If the discharge is pink or brown, it is considered impure and will break wuḍūʾ.

And Allah knows best.

Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia