Short answer
It depends on when it happens. In the Hanafi school, spotting at the time your period is due counts as the start of your period, so you stop fasting, provided the bleeding in total reaches 3 days. If it stops before 3 days, it was not a period and you make up the fasts you missed. Mid-cycle spotting does not stop the fast.
Blood of any colour except pure white, seen at a time when a period is possible (at least 15 days after the last period ended), is treated as menstruation from the moment it appears, so the fast of that day is not valid. If it ends before 72 hours, it was istihadah and the missed fasts are made up. Spotting less than 15 days after the last period is istihadah and does not affect the fast.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The minimum period is one day and night, so spotting that lasts 24 hours within the possible days counts as a period.
- Hanbali
- Also sets the minimum at one day and night.
- Maliki
- There is no minimum for a period in matters of worship, so any blood at the expected time stops the fast.
Explanation
Spotting is light bleeding or a brown, pink or dark stain before the flow starts. In the Hanafi school its colour does not matter. What matters is when it comes and how long the whole bleeding lasts. The Prophet ﷺ said that a woman in her period does not pray or fast, and when her period comes she should leave the prayer.
How to act in Ramadan:
- Spotting when your period is due (or at least 15 days after your last period ended): this is the start of your period. Your fast for that day is not valid, so you may eat. Make the day up after Ramadan.
- If the bleeding, counting the spotting, lasts 72 hours or more and ends within 10 days: all of it was your period.
- If it stops before 72 hours and does not return within the 10 days: it was not a period. Fasts you kept on those days are valid; fasts you left are made up, with no kaffarah.
- Spotting less than 15 days after your last period: not a period. Keep fasting; your fast is valid.
- Spotting during pregnancy: not a period. Keep fasting if you are able.
If you are unsure, note the time the spotting started and check again later with a white tissue. Women with irregular cycles find a simple log in a notes app makes these rulings much easier. For prayer in the same situation, see praying when spotting before your period, and if your period starts during the day, see period starting while fasting.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:185
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Missed fasts are made up later, which is part of the ease of the religion.
Sahih al-Bukhari 304
Sahih... أليس إذا حاضت لم تصل ولم تصم ...
"Is it not so that when she menstruates she neither prays nor fasts?"
A woman in her period does not fast.
Sahih Muslim 333
Sahih... فإذا أقبلت الحيضة فدعي الصلاة ...
"When the menstruation comes, leave the prayer."
The ruling of the period applies from when it begins.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on menstruation, postnatal bleeding and istihadah. The minimum period is three days and nights; any colour except pure white is menstrual blood within the possible days.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation (Bab al-Hayd). A woman leaves prayer and fasting as soon as the blood appears; if it stops short of three days she makes up what she missed.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.