What is the ruling concerning the first five days in which blood is discharged at the beginning of the day and then stops after Dhuhr and during the night, bearing in mind that the natural menstrual period occurred after these days? And is prayer obligatory during the time of dryness?

The blood a woman sees after forty days is not considered menstruation unless it coincides with her regular period. It is considered lochia (post-natal bleeding) if it continues up to sixty days, according to the Shafi'i and Maliki schools of thought. It is obligatory to perform ghusl (definition) (ritual bath) and prayer when the bleeding stops or during the intermittent period of purity. It is preferable to make up for missed prayers during the intermittent period of purity.