Is what the questioner sees—brown discharge and brown threads five days before the menses—considered menstruation that prohibits prayer and intercourse, or istihada (vaginal bleeding outside of menstruation) that does not prohibit them?

Scholars differ concerning the issue of yellowish and brownish discharges (ṣufrah and kudrah). The authoritative opinion (al-ra’y al-muftā bihi) is that they are considered menses if they occur within the regular period or are connected to the blood at its end. Accordingly, brownish discharge that precedes menstruation by a few days is not considered menses. During this period, the woman is considered to be in a state of purity, but she must perform istinjā’ (washing after relieving oneself) and wuḍū’ (ablution) for prayer.