The menstrual period

It is the periodic blood that flows from a woman at times other than post-natal bleeding. It is dark colored and pungent smelling. Yellow or dusky colored discharge is considered menstrual flow. This is based on the hadith narrated by 'Alqama ibn abu 'Alqama through his mother, the servant of 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her who said: "Women would send 'A`isha small boxes containing yellow stained cotton, and she would tell them, 'Do not be hasty until you see the cotton pure and white' " [Reported by Malik. Bukhari declared it mu'allaq].

This means that the piece of cotton must be white and not yellow stained.

The length of the menstrual period

- The minimum period is a single day and night
- The maximum period is 15 days
- The usual period is 6-7 days.

The Ruling
The discharge, exiting once or twice on the same day and which continues until the 12th day of the inquirer's period, is considered menstrual flow. The inquirer must therefore not pray or engage in sexual intercourse with her husband on these days.

Allah Almighty knows best.