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Is Continuous Colored Discharge Considered Menstrual Flow (hayd)?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Assalamu ‘Alaykum Dear Sister in Faith,
Assessing the Color 
The consistency, color, and frequency of vaginal discharge vary throughout a woman’s cycle.
When using a vaginal insert (kursuf) to determine the end of your menses, the color of non-oxidized discharge should be white.  Otherwise, it is considered menstrual flow.
However, on other days when you are not using a kursuf, the discharge color may vary from clear to white to off-white to slightly yellow due to oxidation.  This is how the color may appear on one’s clothes or a pantyliner. This is not considered menstrual flow nor irregular discharge.
The color of discharge that you normally observe, outside the times of menstruation, should be taken as your default color of purity.  This “normal” discharge would be deemed pure following the dominant view in the Hanafi School.
Determining the Menstrual Habit 
The rulings on menstruation in the Hanafi School are meant to sync with a women’s natural biorhythm.  Thus, the legally established habit is most strongly considered when distinguishing between menstrual and other types of flow.
During the days of your habitual period, any darker tinge (beyond your default color) is to be considered menses (hayd) and would affect all related rulings.
Outside the days of your habitual period, any darker tinge is considered irregular flow (istihada). Such discharge would affect a state of minor ritual impurity, which would require only ritual washing (wudu) to lift.
Colors of Discharge 
For a better perception of what regular discharge looks like, please refer to the following link.
If you are, in fact, experiencing irregular colored discharge (istihada) throughout the entire cycle, that is rare and abnormal for a healthy woman. It may signal an underlying medical condition or the onset of early menopause. It would be best to consult a physician.
[Birgivi, Dhukhr al Muta’ahilin]
Allah Most High knows best.
[Ustadha] Iman
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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