Does blood in the vagina come under the same ruling as menstrual blood even though it has not yet come out?

Praise
be to Allah

The blood that is inside the vagina [the place where you put
the piece of cotton], that has not come out, is regarded as menses. It is
not stipulated, for blood to come under the ruling on menses, that it should
have come outside the vagina; rather if it remains inside the vagina and
stains the piece of cotton that is inserted, it is also menses.

This is the view of the Shaafa‘is and the Hanbalis, and was
also narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybaani. 

The aim is to verify the occurrence of the monthly period,
which is the shedding of the lining of the uterus as a result of the egg not
having been fertilised. The blood that appears on the piece of cotton that
is inserted into the vagina is a clear sign of the shedding of the lining of
the uterus, which is menses. 

This is indicated by the apparent meaning of the verse in
which Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“They ask you
concerning menstruation. Say: that is a hurt and a pollution, therefore keep
away from women during menses and go not unto them till they have purified
(from menses and have taken a bath). And when they have purified themselves,
then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you (go in unto them in any
manner as long as it is in their vagina). Truly, Allah loves those who turn
unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a
bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for
their prayers, etc.)”

[al-Baqarah 2:222]. 

The words of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, “Say:
that is a hurt and a pollution”
Indicate that what matters is the occurrence of harm, even if the blood does
not come out to the outside of the vagina. This “harm” appears in the form
of cramps and other menstrual symptoms. 

This is also indicated by the report narrated by Maalik in
al-Muwatta’ (189) with his isnaad from Umm ‘Ilqimah who said: The women
used to send to ‘Aa’ishah vessels containing pieces of cloth on which there
was a yellowish discharge from menstrual blood, asking her whether they
could pray, and she would tell them: Do not be hasty until you see the white
discharge – which signals the end of menses. 

This indicates that the women regarded the yellow discharge
that appeared on the cloth as a sign of (ongoing) menses, and ‘Aa’ishah (may
Allah be pleased with her) confirmed that. What is meant by the cloth here
is the piece of cotton that women used to insert to check on the state of
their menses. 

In al-Musannaf (1/90), Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with
his isnaad that ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd ar-Rahman al-Madaniyyah – who was one of
the fuqaha’ of the Taabi‘een (d. 98 AH) – used to say to the women: If one
of you inserts a piece of cloth and it comes out changed (in colour), she
should nor pray until she does not see anything (on the cloth). 

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Blood inside the vagina comes under the same ruling as menses if it is
present at the time when it is possible that the woman may be menstruating.
The ruling on the presence of menses and the rulings that result from that
depend on knowing whether there is any blood present in the vagina that may
be menstrual blood; if it is present therein, then it is deemed to be
menses, otherwise it is not… Menses comes and goes, so when blood is present
in the vagina, we deem it to be menses, even if it does not come out.

End quote from al-Fataawa al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubra
(1/76). 

Al-Bahooti said: What is proven by it coming out is also
proven by it being felt in the vagina. So if the woman feels her menses
before sunset when she is fasting, then her fast is broken even if the blood
does not come out until after sunset.

End quote from Sharh Muntaha al-Iraadaat (1/79) 

Some of the scholars are of the view that it is not menses
until the blood appears on the outside of the vagina. This is the view of
the Hanafis. 

Al-Kaasaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Emergence of the menstrual blood means that it moves from the
inside of the vagina to the outside, because menses, nifaas [post-partum
bleeding] and istihaadah [irregular, non-menstrual bleeding] cannot be
proven otherwise, according to the apparent meaning of the report.

End quote from Badaa’i‘ as-Sanaa’i‘ (1/39). 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Some of the scholars think that menses is when the blood is
felt – not when there is pain in the abdomen – but does not come out and it
remains inside the vagina. They regard it as being exactly the same as what
comes out. This is a weak view. 

The correct view is that the woman does not break the fast
and her fast is not spoiled except by blood that clearly comes out. So long
as it is simply pains, or she feels it, but it has not come out, this does
not affect anything.

End quote from Jalasaat Ramadaniyyah, Lesson 16, p.
20 

And he said:

If she feels the menses before sunset, but it does not come
out until after sunset, then her fast is complete and is not rendered
invalid, according to the correct view, because blood inside the vagina is
not subject to any ruling, and because when the Prophet (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) was asked about a woman who sees in her dream what a
man sees – does she have to do ghusl? He said: “Yes, if she sees wetness [a
discharge].” 

So the ruling is connected to actually seeing maniy, not to
feeling it. The same applies to menses: the rulings thereon do not come into
effect unless it is seen coming out, not if it is merely felt. 

End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
(11/235). 

But the first view is more likely to be correct, because of
the strength of the evidence for it. This is what our Shaykh, ‘Abd
ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allah preserve him), thinks more likely to be
correct.

Based on that: 

If the piece of cotton is inserted inside the vagina – at the
usual time of menses – and comes out with any trace of blood on it, then it
is menses, at which time it is forbidden for you to pray or fast. If there
was no blood on it, then you must make up the fasts that you broke on those
days. 

And Allah knows best.