Mistaking menstruation for postpartum bleeding

A: If the woman concerned has a regular pattern of menstruation, she must stop Salah and Sawm during it in Ramadan. When the blood ceases completely, she should perform after-menstruation Ghusl (full ritual bath) and then start to observe Salah and Sawm during Ramadan. If, after this, she sees Sufrah (yellow vaginal discharge during or after menstruation) or Kudrah (dusky-colored vaginal discharge during or after menstruation), she should ignore it because of the saying of Um `Atiyyah (Part No. 4; Page No. 221) (may Allah be pleased with her): "We used to consider Sufrah and Kudrah after the period has ended as nothing (i.e. not menses)." There is nothing wrong with her sitting in the Musalla (a place set for prayer), which is prepared for women, during her menses because it does not carry the rulings of a Masjid. However, she is not entitled to touch the Qur'an during her period because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: None should touch the Qur'an except one who is Tahir (ritually pure). The postpartum period is forty days maximum. When this period ends, the rulings of ritually pure women apply to this woman. She has to perform after-postpartum bleeding Ghusl and start to perform Salah, observe Sawm, and her husband can have sexual intercourse with her. Any blood she sees after this period is an abnormal vaginal bleeding outside the menstrual or postpartum period and does not fall under their rulings unless it flows during the time of her usual menstrual period, in which case she has to stop Salah and Sawm. Whenever a newly-delivered woman sees the sign of purity from postpartum bleeding before completing the forty days, she has to perform Ghusl and then start to perform Salah and observe Sawm, and she becomes lawful to her husband. However, if the blood flows again within the forty days, she has to stop performing Salah and observing Sawm until she becomes pure and the forty days have elapsed.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.