Fluctuating Menstrual Habit

Salam,

I get extremely irregular periods and have absolutely no sense of habit. My cycles have gone from 109 days to 41 days to 68, and the patterns in bleeding are also different.

For my last two cycles I noticed that I would get brown discharge before my period and so have marked this as habit. Today I noticed some again and have interpreted this as the start of my period. However I have not seen anything since. If there is nothing else does this mean I have done wrong? I assume I must make up for the prayers too.

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of truth

Firstly, fluctuating habits within the legal limits is normal. Secondly, any coloured discharge in the habitual days of bleeding, other than clear or white, is considered menstruation (hayd).

Therefore, if you saw brown coloured discharge in your habitual days of hayd, then it was correct to assume it to be hayd and stop salah. In fact, you will be rewarded for following the rulings.

If the discharge has cleared within 72 hours, then pray with ablution (wudu) and make up missed prayers for which there will be no sin.
Evaluate your situation at each salat time and make a decision on whether you must pray or not.

If there is any blood/spotting/coloured discharge, you will not pray. If there is no blood/spotting/coloured discharge, you must pray.

Please, refer to this article on “Attaining Ritual Purity” for more information on what to do when the blood is intermittent and this article on “Habit Fluctuation”.

And Allah knows best.