Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I had periods for 8-9 days then I did ghusl after that I was clean. After 3 days I saw pinkish discharge and then I was clean for 2 days,but then I had heavy spotting.
Are these periods?
Answer: As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
I pray you are well. Thank you for you question.
Periods and Purity
In the Ḥanafī school the minimum duration for a period is three days (72 hours), and its maximum duration is ten days (240 hours). Bleeding which is less than the minimum or more than the maximum is considered to be dysfunctional bleeding (istiḥāḍa). Also, there must be at least fifteen days of purity between the end of one menstrual cycle and the start of the next. Any spotting or bleeding during this time is also dysfunctional bleeding.
Keeping Track
It is worth noting that is obligatory for Muslim ladies to document their monthly menstrual habit: the duration of their last menstrual cycle must be recorded, along with the general time of occurrence during the month (7th-12th of the month, or 20th-30th of the month, for example). Doing so is essential as it can save a lot of difficulty if she were to develop problems with dysfunctional bleeding. The same is true for Post-Natal bleeding.
Fore-learned is Forearmed
Your asking this question is commendable, and you will be rewarded for your concern by the generosity of Allah. A good approach is to learn the knowledge needed to practice your religion properly and to try to keep it fresh, because many a time situations arise when an on-the-spot decision needs to be made, and it may not be possible to consult with someone at that point. The only thing that will help at that point is having a grounding in the relevant knowledge, especially with the topic at hand because of the difficulty of its details.
May Allah facilitate the way to His pleasure for us all.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat