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Must I re-fast the first days of Ramadan during which I saw a small amount of blood, not menstrual blood, before my period was due, knowing that I did not break my fast due to the scarcity of blood and considering it as istihadah (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a woman sees a small amount of blood, it is either menses (hayd) or abnormal uterine bleeding (istihadah). It is considered menses in two cases: 1. If it can be combined with the previous bleeding, and the total days of both bleedings and the intermenstrual purity (naqa’) between them do not exceed 15 days, then it is considered a continuation of the previous menses. 2. If there are 15 days or more between it and the previous bleeding, and when combined with the bleeding that follows it, it exceeds a day and a night (the minimum duration of menses), and the total days of both bleedings and purity do not exceed 15 days, then it is a second menses.

If it cannot be considered menses in either of these two cases, then it is istihadah. If it is ruled to be menses, she must make up the fast (qada’ as-sawm) during which the blood was seen, and make up the prayers (qada’ as-salat) after its cessation if she did not perform ghusl. If it is ruled to be istihadah, the fast is valid, and nothing is required. If it is merely an illusion of a person suffering from obsessive doubts (musawwasah), she should not pay attention to it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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