What is the ruling regarding the white discharge (Al-Qassah Al-Bayda')?
Chapter on Menstruation
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The white discharge (Al-Qassah Al-Bayda') is a white substance following the menstrual blood. It is reported from our Imam (Imam Ahmad) that this is the sign indicating the end of menstruation. Another narration states that Al-Qassah Al-Bayda' is the cotton the woman inserts; if it emerges unchanged (white), it is the white discharge. This view is narrated from Al-Zuhri.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa holds that the period of cleanliness between two bleedings is not purity; if she fasts during it, the fast is invalid and must be made up. Furthermore, prayer is not obligatory, and sexual relations are not permissible; thus, the two bleedings and the time between them constitute one continuous menstrual period. This is also one opinion of Al-Shafi'i, based on the argument that blood flows and ceases intermittently.