If Brown Spotting Appears Before Maghrib in Ramadan, Should She Continue Fasting the Next Day?
Question
It is time for my period I spotted brown yesterday and few hours before iftar so I broke my fast. But ever since nothing what do I do. Am I supposed to fast today or not
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
Menstruation (hayd) prevents fasting and prayer. A woman must not fast while menstruating, and if bleeding begins before Maghrib, the fast of that day becomes invalid and must be made up later.
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding menstruation:
“Is it not that when she menstruates she does not pray and does not fast?”
Sahih al Bukhari
However, the jurists carefully distinguish between actual menstrual blood and irregular spotting (istihada), and between spotting that is connected to the menstrual cycle and spotting that is not.
Brown or yellow discharge near the time of one’s expected period may or may not count as menstruation depending on timing and continuity.
2. Scholarly Discussion
The scholars agree that if spotting occurs during the habitual menstrual days and is connected to the cycle, it is treated as menstruation.
The Companions’ wives reported:
“We did not consider yellow or brown discharge after purification to be anything.”
Sahih al Bukhari
From this, scholars derived:
- Brown discharge during the days of menstruation is considered menstruation.
- Brown discharge after complete purification is not considered menstruation.
The key factors are:
- Timing (is it within her normal cycle window?).
- Continuity (did full bleeding follow?).
- Signs of purity (clear discharge or complete dryness).
If spotting occurs before the regular period time and does not continue, many scholars treat it as irregular spotting, not menstruation.
3. Application to Your Situation
You said:
- It was time for your period.
- You saw brown spotting before iftar.
- You broke your fast.
- Since then, nothing has appeared.
There are two possible scenarios:
If this brown spotting occurred within your normal menstrual time and is typically how your period begins, then it is considered menstruation. In that case:
- Yesterday’s fast was invalid and must be made up.
- You should not fast today unless you become clearly pure.
If the brown spotting was brief, did not continue, and your normal menstrual bleeding has not started, and this is not your usual pattern, then it may not count as menstruation. In that case:
- You should consider yourself pure.
- You must fast today.
- You would need to make up yesterday’s fast because you broke it.
The determining factor is your usual cycle pattern.
If you are now completely dry and see no discharge, and this spotting did not continue, then you fast today.
If bleeding begins later today, you stop fasting at that time.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
اليقين لا يزول بالشك
Certainty is not removed by doubt
If you were previously pure and only uncertain spotting occurred without continuation, purity remains unless clear menstruation appears.
الحكم يدور مع علته وجودا وعدما
The ruling revolves around its effective cause
The cause for not fasting is active menstruation. If menstruation is not present, the ruling of prohibition does not apply.
Final Ruling
If the brown spotting occurred during your normal menstrual time and is typically how your period begins, then it counts as menstruation and you should not fast until you become clearly pure. If it was brief, did not continue, and is not your usual menstrual pattern, then you are considered pure and must fast today. In all cases, the fast you broke yesterday must be made up.
And Allah knows best.