Consistent Flatulence and Tarawih Prayer

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: I suffer from consistent flatulence.  Every year during Ramadan I get discouraged from taraweeh, tahajjud, and reading the Qur’an due to the extreme flatulence I experience. I know I am suppose to disregard doubts but sometimes i might be like 70 to 99% sure i passed gas. keeping my wudu during taraweeh gets so difficult that i end up missing a lot of rakats due to consistent gas.  Please advise me.

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray that this finds you well, insha’Allah.

We have a legal principle: Certainty is not lifted by doubt. Hence anything short of certainty should be completely ignored. Period.

When it comes to misgivings (waswasa), Khadimi, the commentator of the Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya, said that even strong doubts are not acted upon. Being ‘almost certain’ is not the same as certainty. From now on, unless you hear or smell something, assume nothing happened.

If it is easier to keep your ablution (wudu) and pray sitting for tarawih prayers, then you should do so.

Don’t lose heart as this is exactly what the devil wants. Realize that Allah is calling you to his mercy, forgiveness and Paradise. Take from the blessed nights of Ramadan.

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Every night, when a third of the night remains, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven saying, ‘Is there anyone calling on Me that I may answer him? Is there anyone asking anything of Me that I may give it to him? Is there anyone asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him?'” [Bukhari]

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani