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Urine Leakage, Chronic Gas, and Misgivings

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question:  For a while now I have had a problem with urine leakage after going to the bathroom. Usually, this only happens after urinating and the only position that it really leaks out in is while in Sujud.  If I use the washroom right beforehand, this problem makes praying in congregation difficult.

Also, at the same time, I have food sensitivities causing chronic gas and nasal drip that the doctor could not resolve.  I find it very difficult to keep wudu for very long. Sometimes I can keep wudu long enough to pray an entire pray, but what should I do about taraweeh? I don’t want to have to constantly stop and start again due to making wudu between rakats and worry if my prayer has been accepted or not.

 

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

Misgivings should be completely ignored. One does not break the prayer on a doubt about purity.

From now on, follow these guidelines:

[1] After using the toilet, wait a few moments to make sure all remaining drops exit,

[2] Squeeze and slightly twist the private part,

[3] Wipe the private part with toilet paper,

[4] Wash the private part with water three or so times, as mentioned in the Maraqi al-Falah, and

[5] Sprinkle water onto your clothes and private parts.

After doing this, one does not need to check anything. Any feelings or sensations should be ignored. Certainty is not lifted by subsequent doubts. Therefore, unless one is absolutely certain that something has come out –- which isn’t possible if one followed the steps above –- one ignores every single whisper the devil throws one’s way.

Then, one should pray focusing on the Divine, out of gratitude, love, and reverence.

See also: What Should I Do About Left Over Drops Of Urine?

Chronic Gas & Excuses

Mere suppositions of gas exiting would be of no legal consequence. Though if it is established that one has a chronic excuse (see here for details: The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution), it would be relatively easy to pray tarawih.

However, it would remain necessary to take all reasonable means to stop that which makes one unable to retain one’s ablution (wudu); therefore, if it is possible to pray sitting such that the excuse does not occur, (i.e. the passing of wind in this case), one must pray sitting. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

On the other hand, if one is not chronically excused, one tries one’s best – whilst completely ignoring any misgivings – and only renews one’s ablution if one smells or hears something. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When Allah desires good for someone, He afflicts him.” [Bukhari]

A Note on Misgivings

Don’t lose yourself in misgivings – this is what the devil wants. Purifying oneself is a means to something greater. This religion is a mercy and if one follows the way of the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), as is called of us, one will be guided.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

Praying in Clothes Affected by Urine Dripping Problem

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Answered by  Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: If some one dribble urine and has no control over it, can he pray in the same clothes or is his namaaz valid ?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

The excused amount of liquid filth, in the Hanafi school, is approximately 5cm in diameter. One’s prayer in clothing affected by filth, which is less than 5cm in diameter, would be valid. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

As for the leak, one must take all reasonable means to stop the urine from exiting. If one, for example, can pray seated such that urine does not exit, one must do so. Consequently, one’s prayer would be valid. [ibid.]

However, if one does in fact have a constant leak such that one cannot find enough time to perform a minimum ablution (wudu) and quick prayer without the exiting of urine, then one would be considered an excused person (ma`dhur).

Please see the related links:

[1] The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution

[2] Urinary Incontinence and Wudu

[3] How Can I Maintain Purity and Pray When I Have a Weak Bladder that Constantly Leaks?

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

How Do I Pray When Liquid Constantly Leaks from My Private Parts?

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Answered by Tabraze Azam

Question: Asalamualikum.
What is the ruling on someone who has seminal fluid or a sticky watery liquid coming out of private part almost all the time? Is this person considered mazur? I’m worried because I pray 5 times and it’s becoming difficult to concentrate. Please help me brother, I  have heard a person who has urine drops coming out continuously is considered mazur, but what about my situation? Please help as soon as possible.

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

One would legally be considered an excused person (ma`dhur) if a whole prayer time passed and one did not find enough time to perform a minimal ritual ablution (wudu) and a quick prayer.

This is, nevertheless, without falling prey to satanic misgivings. Take refuge in Allah from the devil and remember the legal maxim: Certainty is not lifted by doubt. The answer to, “Did something come out?” is: No.

Taking the Means and the Excused Person

If it is established that one is, in fact, an excused person (ma`dhur), the manifestation of the excuse, once, in the following prayer time is sufficient for one to be considered an excused person (ma`dhur). If an entire prayer time passes without the manifestation of the excuse, one is no longer considered an excused person (ma`dhur).

It remains necessary, however, to take all reasonable means to stop that which makes one unable to retain one’s ritual ablution (wudu). Therefore, if it is possible to pray sitting, on the floor, such that the excuse does not occur, one must pray sitting; and one would not be considered an excused person (ma`dhur). [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

A Note on Misgivings

We have a number of important legal principles. Amongst them is that certainty is not lifted by doubt. Moreover, mere doubts and suppositions are of no legal consequence. Therefore, one’s feeling, or sensation, of secreting something is of no consequence. Don’t constantly check your under garments. Perform the ritual ablution (wudu), once, and pray.

“Verily this religion is ease; and none make this religion difficult except that it overwhelms them.” [Bukhari]

Please see the following resources for further information:

[1] The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution

[2] How Can I Maintain Purity When I Have a Bladder That Constantly Leaks?

[3] What Can I Do About Satanic Whisperings That Plague Me and Even Make Me Want to Abandon My Salat?

Rejoicing in Allah

Don’t let such matters of purification distract you from their purpose: becoming closer to Allah through prayer, recitation and supplication. The early righteous were too busy worshiping their Lord to be busied, and concerned, by such, and other, nullifiers of the ritual ablution (wudu). Think calmly and clearly about the situation; learn the rulings; apply them, and show gratitude to Allah.

Abu Yahya Suhayb ibn Sinan said, “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘What an extraordinary thing the business of the believer is! All of it is good for him. And that only applies to the believer. If good fortune is his lot, he is grateful and it is good for him. If something harmful happens to him, he is steadfast and that is good for him too.’” [Muslim]

“Say: ’In the bounty of God, and His mercy — in that let them rejoice; it is better than that they amass.” [10:58]

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

Long-Term Illness that Prevents Fasting

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Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: I was wondering if you could clarify the following matter regarding fasts. I am currently on medication, I have been taking it since I can remember. I take it twice a day and since it is very strong,I have to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Most probably I will always be eating it all my life, as I already have been doing so.

With regards to this problem, what do I do in compensating for my fasts, since I cannot fast? Please can you give me specific recommendations?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

Please consult a reliable local scholar and physician to determine if there is any way to still fast despite your condition, such as by adjusting the medication dosage or times you have to take it, switching to another effective medication, seeking alternative modes of therapy, etc.

Also, see if you are able to make up the fasts when the days are shorter, and then still take your medication and requisite water before and after the fast.

If none of this is possible, then you would be considered someone with a chronic illness not expected to recover. The ruling for such a person is that if unable to fast, then for each missed day he must give fidya, i.e., roughly 2.2kg of wheat or its monetary equivalent to the poor. However, if at some point you get better and are able to fast, then you would have to make up all those days (even the days for which you paid the fidya). [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

In terms of general advice on how to make the most of Ramadan despite not being able to fast, please see the following:

How Can I Benefit From Ramadan When I Can’t Fast Due to Being Ill?

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Related Answer:

The Complete Guide to Fasting

Cleaning Oneself After Using the Restroom: Its Effect on Fasting and How to Do it and Maintain Wudu If You Have a Chronic Excuse

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Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: My friend has a chronic problem with constipation and hernias. One of the ways he has found to help treat his condition is to use a bidet to thoroughly clean the area after every bowel movement. He uses the stream of water on a really high setting for a couple minutes and it enters his anus, and then afterwards he pushes the water back out. It acts almost as a homemade enema.

However, during the last few days of Ramadan this year he read that enemas are one of the things that invalidate the fast.

Three questions:

1) does this apply to how my friend has been treating himself for his constipation and hernias?

2) if so, is he required to make up all his fasts? It would be 23 days unfortunately, and he is already making up fasts from previous years before he learned how to do ghusl properly.

3) in general, what are the rulings for constipation, hernias and wudu? My friend has a hard time knowing if his anal bleeding is from the inside or the outside. Sometimes it’s not possible for him to keep checking and wait until the bleeding stops completely to pray because of work schedule, etc. What can he do?

My friend is feeling frustrated and discouraged because as he learns more about the fiqh rulings, he realizes what he had been doing in the past may not be valid. Any advice about this issue would be much appreciated.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

(1) The fast would be invalidated only if the water went up into the backside a distance of a suppository, which classically was about 3cm or so. So inshaAllah his fasts are fine.

Having said that, he should be wary of this ruling and try to make sure water or a wet finger does not go that far up into his backside when he is fasting. [Shurunbulali, Ascent to Felicity]

(2) It seems that he would not have to make up any fasts. Moreover, I don’t see why he would have other old makeup fasts due to performing ghusl incorrectly — incorrect ghusl does not invalidate the fast.

(3) After using the bathroom, he should clean the area and place toilet paper on the anus to stop the bleeding. He can then go about his work for some time to make sure it has stopped, after which he can go ahead and make wudu and pray.

If the bleeding does not stop for an entire prayer time, then he would qualify as being chronically excused.

Please see related answers on its conditions, such as:

The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution

Chronic Excuse – Can I Pray as Many Prayers as I Want With a Single Ablution?

What Means Should a Woman With a Dysfunctional Vaginal Bleeding (Istihada) Take to Stop the Bleeding?

Urinary Incontinence and Wudu

How Can I Maintain Purity and Pray When I have a Weak Bladder That Constantly Leaks?

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Do You Have to Pray Immediately After You Make Wudu If You Have a Chronic Excuse?

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Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Question: Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, I pray this reaches you in the best of imaan and health.

If someone has a chronic wind problem and is categorised as ‘excused’, I understand that it may be better and perhaps recommended to pray salah as soon as wudu is made. But is it permissible to make wudu (when salah time enters) and pray a little later? For example, if a person makes wudu from home for Isha/taraweeh and then travels to the masjid after magrib and iftar, which may take about 40 minutes, and avoids doing it in the masjid as they may miss jama’ah, is that okay?

Or for example in a lesson which gives 10 minute breaks out of 2 hours (which after 2 hours is complete only about 30-40 minutes is left until magrib), if someone makes wudu in that 10 minutes for asr, and then when lesson is over prays, rather than making wudu when the lesson is over and then praying thereafter, will that be okay as well?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well and in the best of heath, insha’Allah.

Yes, it would be permitted to delay the performance of the prayer, however, only until later within the same prayer time. This is as long as:

[1] One performed the ritual ablution (wudu) at the start of the prayer time;

[2] And it was not nullified by the occurrence of that which invalidates the ablution (wudu), other than the excuse.

Otherwise, the ablution (wudu) of the one with a chronic excuse is vitiated by the exiting of the prayer time and one would need to renew one’s ablution (wudu).

Nevertheless, it remains necessary to take all reasonable means to stop that which makes one unable to retain one’s ablution (wudu); therefore, if it is possible to pray sitting such that the excuse does not occur, (i.e. the passing of wind in this case), one must pray sitting. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

Please see the following resources for further information:

[1] The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution

[2] Chronic Excuse: Can I Pray As Many Prayers As I Want With A Single Ablution?

[3] How Can I Maintain Purity and Pray When I Have a Weak Bladder that Constantly Leaks?

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

How Can I Maintain Purity and Pray When I Have a Weak Bladder that Constantly Leaks?

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Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: (1) I have a very weak bladder such that it leaks (in small amounts) almost all the time. I am aware of suggestion that so long as the stain on the underwear is no more than a 50pence piece that is acceptable.

Is this right? What is the position with the other schools of thought?

What is the position since the weak bladder causes oftentimes a smell. It is not practical/possible during the day to change underwear.

(2) Since I work I skip Zuhr prayer. By the time I get home it is time for Asr prayer. Can I combine the 2 prayers?

 

 

 

 

I change underwear before Maghrib prayer. But if I am out and about it is not possible.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

(1) In the Hanafi school, the excused amount of filth is the surface area of a circle of approx. 5cm in diameter. Praying with this much filth on one’s garment would be valid, while with more than that would be invalid under normal circumstances.

For someone with a chronic excuse, however, there is some leeway with respect to the filth of their excuse (such as the urine of someone with urinary incontinence).

Basically, if one is able to wash it off (or change into a new underwear) and make wudu and then perform the prayer, such that by the time one is done praying, there has not leaked more than the excusable amount mentioned above, then one must do that for each prayer.

However, if by the time one is done praying, more than the excusable amount would have leaked, then one would not have to wash it off (or change underwear) before each prayer.

If this still proves too difficult, there is another opinion in the Hanafi school (which is also a position of the Maliki school), that one with chronic urinary incontinence can in any case simply ignore the urine that leaks.

[Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Tahtawi ala Maraqi Falah]

It is also worth mentioning that in the Hanafi school, someone with a chronic excuse must renew wudu after each prayer time ends in order to pray the following prayer, since the end of a prayer time would break the wudu of such a person, while they are excused for their chronic excuse (i.e., urine leakage would not break wudu for someone with chronic urinary incontinence).

If that proves too difficult, then in the Maliki school, it is only recommended for such a person to renew wudu for each prayer.

(2) You should pray zuhr at work, on time. Ask Allah for help and try your best. If you fall short, pray when you get home and seek forgiveness.

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers:

Urinary Incontinence and Wudu

The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution

Chronic Excuse: Can I Pray As Many Prayers As I Want With A Single Ablution?

What Means Should a Woman With Dysfunctional Vaginal Bleeding (Istihada) Take to Stop the Bleeding Prior to Prayer?

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Answered by Sidi Tabraze Azam

Question: Must the women in state of istihada take any means to stop the bleeding prior to praying?

Answer: Wa alaykum assalaam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh Sidi,

The prayer as an excused (ma’dhur) person is performed out of necessity; therefore, we try to use whatever means we reasonably can to prevent the person from praying in an excused (ma’dhur) state; whether that is by doing something to prevent flow, sitting on the floor and praying and so on. [Birgivi, Dhukhr al-Mutahillin]

If she is able to stop the bleeding, by using something such as cotton wool or the like, then it is necessary to do so. If there is flow whilst standing, she should sit and pray; if there is flow during the prostrations, she would use head movements to perform them.

However, she would not pray lying down as this too is only allowed in a state of necessity. Therefore she prays as an excused (ma’dhur) person in such a case.

See this link for further details on chronic excuses: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/the-fiqh-of-chronic-excuses-and-ablution/

And Allah knows best.

wassalaam,

Tabraze Azam