Question:
Do women need to perform ghusl due to intermittent flow?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Assalamu ‘alaykum dear sister in faith,
It is normal for women to experience intermittent flow during their menses. The color and heaviness may also vary throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. Women also experience patterns of flow. For example, it is common that flow cease at night and resume later the next day. A woman becomes attune to her own patterns and may act upon what she deems to be probable.
Thus, if a brief interruption occurs during menses, during the days of her habit, she can reasonably assume that the flow will resume shortly, and she would not need to perform ghusl.
If, however, the interruption extends or occurs after the days of her habit, she should exercise caution. She should make use of a vaginal insert (kursuf) to determine the end of her menses (hayd).
If she finds that the discharge is colored (even yellow), she is to consider it as menstrual flow (hayd).
The obligation to perform the ritual bath (ghusl) and resume prayers would only come into effect once she observes uncolored discharge.
[Birgivi, Dhukhr al-Muta’ahilin]
Allah, Most High, knows best.
[Ustadha] Iman Badawi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani