After childbirth, I experienced bleeding and yellow discharge, then saw signs of purity and performed ghusl and prayed. Later, the discharge and bleeding returned. Am I still in a state of postpartum bleeding (nifas), or am I considered pure? And do I need to make up the prayers missed during the days of yellow discharge?

Post-natal bleeding (nifas) is the blood discharged due to childbirth. The ruling of nifas continues until the woman sees purity (tuhur) or completes forty days. Yellowish and brownish discharges connected to nifas share its ruling. Therefore, whatever a woman experienced before seeing purity is considered nifas, and she is not obligated to pray during that time.

A woman's ghusl (ritual bath) and prayer after seeing purity are valid. Yellowish discharges after purity are not considered nifas, and she must pray during those days.

As for the return of blood within the forty days, it is considered nifas, and she must stop praying and fasting during that time.

After the forty days have passed and purity is seen, the return of blood is considered menstruation (hayd) unless it exceeds the maximum duration of a menstrual period. However, if the blood is very little (a drop or two), it is not considered hayd and does not prevent prayer or intimacy. Wudu (ablution) is required for each prayer after its time has begun.