What is the ruling on the prayer and fasting of a woman who previously had a menstrual period of 6-7 days and would purify by the cessation of blood before the emission of the white discharge by a week or more? And what should she do about her disturbed menstrual cycle, which has become two days or 3-4 days? Should she pray and fast when she sees brown threads? Should she delay ghusl until she sees the white discharge? And should she make up the days she missed fasting?

There are two signs of purity (tahara): the cessation of blood and the dryness of the vaginal area, or the discharge of white fluid (al-qassah al-bayda'). If the area becomes dry after the known period ends, then purity has been attained, and there is no need to wait for the discharge of the white fluid, because the dryness of the area is a sign of purity. So, if menstruation occurs for two or three days and then ceases, and the area becomes completely dry, then the woman is purified, and she is obligated to fast and pray. However, if the area does not become dry and there remains a yellowish or brownish discharge, the woman should not rush until complete purity is attained or the white fluid is discharged.

The brown lines that appear before or after the accustomed period are not considered menstruation, unless they are connected to blood, in which case they are considered menstruation. Yellowish and brownish discharges after purity are not considered anything. A menstruating woman is forbidden from praying and fasting, and she must make up for the missed fasts but not the prayers. If the brown lines appear after purity, they do not prevent prayer and fasting. If they appear before purity, they are considered menstruation, and prayer and fasting are forbidden.