I say, and with God's help: If the cessation occurs before the usual time, you should delay the washing until the last time of the prayer, meaning you should not rush to wash and perform the prayer or similar actions, but rather wait until the last time of the prayer; because the return of the blood is presumed due to the remaining time of the usual period, and deviation from the usual is a rare occurrence. If her blood returns, she is in her menstrual period as she was, and any intervening period of purity is not considered a separation. If it does not return and she fears missing the prayer and its reduction due to the passage of time, she should wash and perform the prayer as a precaution; however, it is not permissible to engage in sexual relations in this case, meaning when the blood has ceased before her usual time, even if she has washed, except after the days of the usual period have passed; because the return during the usual period is common, so the precaution is to avoid it. The intended last time is the recommended time, not the time of dislike, such as if it ceases during the evening prayer, she should delay until a time when she can wash and pray before midnight, and praying after midnight is disliked. See: Al-‘Umda 1: 132, Al-Hidaya 1: 32, and Sharh Al-Waqaya p. 127, and God knows best.