Yellow discharge after haidh
Q: I am a female who normally has both yellow and white vaginal discharge. Scientifically, from what I read, yellow discharge can be a normal discharge for women, and it is simply the vagina cleaning itself. This discharge occurs before and after my menses and well as during my 'pure' days, pretty much all month long, pretty frequently. Until now, I did not consider this my period as it occurs naturally throughout the month and my actual period is very obvious as it very heavy and painful and lasts 8-10 days. Recently, in a fatwa, I read that any color other than white, including yellow means menses, and in another I read that this yellow should only be considered menses if it occurs right before the blood flow. I am confused - is this yellow discharge menses islamically?
If it is, this will make things very difficult for me. Since it occurs nearly all the time, it will occur right after my 15 days of purity, and I will have to consider the week right after it my period. The actual blood flow will start later, and I will have to make ghusl during the days of actual blood flow. Given that my menses flow is consistent and heavy, how do I make ghusl in this case? if I simply shower, the blood will continue to flow and will mix with the water. In fact, no matter how I shower, the water would inevitably run over the blood and over other parts of my body. How do I wash and make ghusl while the blood flows without getting the rest of my body impure?
Also, it seems that the opinion that this discharge is not menses unless accompanied by blood, which is what I have been following my whole life, also seems to appear in the Hanafi fiqh as well as other madhabs. Given the immense difficulty and stress the other position would put me under (especially as I am struggling with OCD regarding impurities and making ghusl with blood running in between my legs would give me major anxiety), am I allowed to carry on with this fiqh position? I am sorry this is very long, however this issue has been given me a huge deal of stress, and will be incredibly difficult for me if this discharge is in fact menses islamically.
A: The yellow discharge which resembles blood will be treated as haiz if it is seen during the period of haiz. If it is seen out of the days of haiz, it will not be regarded as haiz, but rather istihaazah. Hence, apart from the days of haiz, whenever it comes out, you will clean yourself, renew your wudu and thereafter perform your salaah. However if the discharge is similar to the white discharge, then it will not be regarded as istihaazah. Nevertheless, when it comes out, it will cause the wudu to break.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q:
1. Does haidh days refer to days when there is blood (e.g. When the blood starts, during or after the blood), or does it also refer to anytime after the 15 day tuhr?
2. If the yellow discharge which resembles a normal white discharge after the actual haidh (approximately 7 days of blood), is this also considered as haidh?
3. If yes, then will the haidh always be 10 days in the case of a continuous discharge of that nature?
A:
1. The minimum duration of haidh is 3 days and the maximum is 10. Hence, if the yellow discharge appears within the duration of haidh then it will also be counted as haidh.
2. Any other colour but white can be counted as haidh.
3. If the continuous yellowish discharge was from the very first time the woman experienced haidh and it remained like that then the haidh will be counted as 10 days.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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