Question
Asalamu Alaykum.
I have had an issue for a few months now where I delay my prayer until the time is almost finished I do this because I regularly break my wudu (passing wind) due to nervousness and fear of breaking my wudu. I’ve tried to control my nervousness but I keep thinking if I break then I’ll have to repeat it all again and then start from the beginning (this can happen 1-2+ times)
I end up praying at the last moment of the prayer time, for example I would pray dhuhr 5 minutes before Asr so that if I do break my wudu I can just say that I’ll make Qaza prayer later when I have time and then I would move onto Asr prayer without praying dhuhr that day because I invalidated it by breaking my wudu.
I have accumulated countless invalid prayers that I keep telling myself “I’ll pray them later when I know how to pray quickly and I don’t have this problem“ I can’t even fulfill my fard 5 prayers of the day without 1-2 or even sometimes 3-4 being invalid sometimes. And 95% of the time I pray alone. And I have other things to do during my day like cook and eat and study and work and I don’t find the time or the effort to exhaust myself to pray again and again not knowing if this prayer will be invalid or valid.
(Background on myself): I’m (male) a new revert as of May2023 who is teaching myself about Islam, I’ve learned what invalidates wudu and all those other things like the prayer sequence and the English translation from Arabic. And my prayers with a lot of mindfulness and contemplation can take 40 minutes-1 hour, but without and rushing it can take maybe 10-15 minutes (which is what I do now, and doesn’t feel very good to pray so quick, because I don’t understand Arabic so I can recite the Arabic but if I don’t think about the English translation then I’m just saying words with no meaning or understanding to me.
when I am outside of prayer I don’t worry about passing wind and may even go hours without breaking wudu, but in Salah my heart is beating quicker and I can’t concentrate on what I’m reciting, I’m trying to translate from Arabic to English because I don’t understand fully but can learn with time, and trying to contemplate on the Salah.
I’m not sure what I can do I’ve tried methods but I feel like I don’t know the straight path.
Jazakallah khair!
All the best!
.
Answer
The shari’ah has facilitated for situations wherein a person is constantly releasing impurity such that he does not have enough time to perform a minimal wudu’ and prayer without his wudu’ breaking again. When such a situation persists for the entire prayer time, he should perform his wudu’ and prayer at the end of the current prayer time, even if he releases impurity during the prayer. They will now be classified as a ma’dhur (excused person) according to shari’ah.
Thereafter, as long as he suffers from the same issue at least once in the subsequent prayer times, they will remain a ma’dhur. A ma’dhur must make a fresh wudu’ for each prayer time and pray the salat, and it will be valid regardless of if that impurity is released after making this wudu’ or not.
If he did not suffer from the same issue in the next prayer time even once, he will no longer retain the status of a ma’dhur.
Since this is not a simple matter, let me explain through an example. Due to nervousness, whenever you try to pray, you are unable to complete your prayer without passing wind. Zuhr time enters and you are unable to pray without passing wind. You are now approaching the last 10 minutes of zuhr time. Since you cannot miss the prayer, you must make a fresh wudu’ and pray your zuhr, and complete your prayer even if you pass wind during this process. When zuhr time finishes in this state we can rule for you to be classed as a ma’dhur from the time of zuhr. Thereafter, ʿasr time enters so you will make a fresh wudu’ for ʿasr time. After making wudu’, you perform your ʿasr prayer entirely, and during the entire ʿasr time you suffer from the same problem of passing wind at least once. As long as in each prayer time, you pass wind at least once, you will maintain the status of ma’dhur, and to perform your prayer you simply have to make a fresh wudu’ for each prayer time and then perform it. Even if you pass wind during the prayer, it will not need to be repeated or made up.
You will no longer be ma’dhur if one prayer time passes in which you do not experience this issue. In such a case, the above process would need to be repeated to reinstate you as a ma’dhur.
For a video explanation of the ruling of a ma’dhur, see the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvxgeXR8pGE
Having explained this, there are a few more important points that I would like to bring to your attention.
Firstly, you mentioned that you have missed a huge number of prayers due to this issue. This teaches us the importance of gaining knowledge of Islam from qualified teachers. Such knowledge would have saved you from suffering with this issue for such a long period of time wherein you missed so many prayers and would also help you develop concentration in your prayer. I would strongly recommend that you join Islamic studies classes in your local masjid or otherwise online. There are many places, such as Rayyan Courses, which have online courses taught by reliable scholars which you can benefit from. You should also take account of the prayers you have missed and make them up. The wudu which you perform at the beginning of each prayer time while being ma’dhur can be used to perform all other acts of worship such as make up prayer or reciting Qur’an.
Additionally, you mentioned that a prayer done with concentration can take you up to one hour which does not leave much time for your other daily activities. Islam is a religion of balance and understands that human beings have other responsibilities besides prayer. Thus, it is better to pray a shorter prayer and pray all five prayers than pray one extremely long prayer. The best remedy for you, now that you have understood the ruling of a ma’dhur, is that you pray your prayer in the masjid. This way, it will take no more than 10-15 mins maximum for a prayer, you will get the reward of praying in congregation in the masjid, and you will have sufficient time for your other daily activities.
Finally, the nervousness that you are experiencing which is the root cause of this entire predicament is a mental issue which needs resolving. Insha’Allah, once you begin praying as a ma’dhur, this should help to reduce the nervousness as you know that even if you were to pass wind, your prayer would still be valid. For now I would say that before you start your prayer, take a few deep breaths, and calm yourself down. Ask Allah for refuge from the Satan and his whispering before you start. However, if the issue still persists, it may be advisable to speak to a Muslim therapist who should be able to advise you as to how to overcome this issue.
May Allah make matters easy for you and reward you for your concern for your religion.
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 305)
في الدر: (وَصَاحِبُ عُذْرٍ مَنْ بِهِ سَلَسٌ) بَوْلٍ لَا يُمْكِنُهُ إمْسَاكُهُ (أَوْ اسْتِطْلَاقُ بَطْنٍ أَوْ انْفِلَاتُ رِيحٍ أَوْ اسْتِحَاضَةٌ) أَوْ بِعَيْنِهِ رَمَدٌ أَوْ عَمَشٌ أَوْ غَرَبٌ، وَكَذَا كُلُّ مَا يَخْرُجُ بِوَجَعٍ وَلَوْ مِنْ أُذُنٍ وَثَدْيٍ وَسُرَّةٍ (إنْ اسْتَوْعَبَ عُذْرُهُ تَمَامَ وَقْتِ صَلَاةٍ مَفْرُوضَةٍ)
بِأَنْ لَا يَجِدَ فِي جَمِيعِ وَقْتِهَا زَمَنًا يَتَوَضَّأُ وَيُصَلِّي فِيهِ خَالِيًا عَنْ الْحَدَثِ (وَلَوْ حُكْمًا) لِأَنَّ الِانْقِطَاعَ الْيَسِيرَ مُلْحَقٌ بِالْعَدَمِ (وَهَذَا شَرْطُ) الْعُذْرِ (فِي حَقِّ الِابْتِدَاءِ، وَفِي) حَقِّ (الْبَقَاءِ كَفَى وُجُودُهُ فِي جُزْءٍ مِنْ الْوَقْتِ) وَلَوْ مَرَّةً (وَفِي) حَقِّ الزَّوَالِ يُشْتَرَطُ (اسْتِيعَابُ الِانْقِطَاعِ) تَمَامَ الْوَقْتِ (حَقِيقَةً) لِأَنَّهُ الِانْقِطَاعُ الْكَامِلُ. (وَحُكْمُهُ الْوُضُوءُ) لَا غَسْلُ ثَوْبِهِ وَنَحْوِهِ (لِكُلِّ فَرْضٍ) اللَّامُ لِلْوَقْتِ كَمَا فِي – {لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ} [الإسراء: 78]- (ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي) بِهِ (فِيهِ فَرْضًا وَنَفْلًا) فَدَخَلَ الْوَاجِبُ بِالْأَوْلَى (فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْوَقْتُ بَطَلَ) أَيْ: ظَهَرَ حَدَثُهُ السَّابِقُ، حَتَّى لَوْ تَوَضَّأَ عَلَى الِانْقِطَاعِ وَدَامَ إلَى خُرُوجِهِ لَمْ يَبْطُلْ بِالْخُرُوجِ مَا لَمْ يَطْرَأْ حَدَثٌ آخَرُ أَوْ يَسِيلُ كَمَسْأَلَةِ مَسْحِ خُفِّهِ.
الفتاوى الهندية (1/ 40)
شَرْطُ ثُبُوتِ الْعُذْرِ ابْتِدَاءً أَنْ يَسْتَوْعِبَ اسْتِمْرَارُهُ وَقْتَ الصَّلَاةِ كَامِلًا وَهُوَ الْأَظْهَرُ كَالِانْقِطَاعِ لَا يَثْبُتُ مَا لَمْ يَسْتَوْعِبْ الْوَقْتَ كُلَّهُ حَتَّى لَوْ سَالَ دَمُهَا فِي بَعْضِ وَقْتِ صَلَاةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَتْ وَصَلَتْ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ الْوَقْتُ وَدَخَلَ وَقْتُ صَلَاةٍ أُخْرَى وَانْقَطَعَ دَمُهَا فِيهِ أَعَادَتْ تِلْكَ الصَّلَاةَ لِعَدَمِ الِاسْتِيعَابِ. وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْقَطِعْ فِي وَقْتِ الصَّلَاةِ الثَّانِيَةِ حَتَّى خَرَجَ لَا تُعِيدُهَا لِوُجُودِ اسْتِيعَابِ الْوَقْتِ. وَشَرْطُ بَقَائِهِ أَنْ لَا يَمْضِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَقْتُ فَرْضٍ إلَّا وَالْحَدَثُ الَّذِي اُبْتُلِيَ بِهِ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ هَكَذَا فِي التَّبْيِينِ
وَشَرْطُ بَقَائِهِ أَنْ لَا يَمْضِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَقْتُ فَرْضٍ إلَّا وَالْحَدَثُ الَّذِي اُبْتُلِيَ بِهِ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ هَكَذَا فِي التَّبْيِينِ
الْمُسْتَحَاضَةُ وَمَنْ بِهِ سَلَسُ الْبَوْلِ أَوْ اسْتِطْلَاقِ الْبَطْنِ أَوْ انْفِلَاتِ الرِّيحِ أَوْ رُعَافٍ دَائِمٌ أَوْ جُرْحٍ لَا يُرْقَأُ يَتَوَضَّئُونَ لِوَقْتِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَيُصَلُّونَ بِذَلِكَ الْوُضُوءِ فِي الْوَقْتِ مَا شَاءُوا مِنْ الْفَرَائِضِ وَالنَّوَافِلِ هَكَذَا فِي الْبَحْرِ الرَّائِقِ.
وَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ عَلَى السَّيَلَانِ وَصَلَّى عَلَى الِانْقِطَاعِ وَتَمَّ الِانْقِطَاعُ بِاسْتِيعَابِ الْوَقْتِ الثَّانِي أَعَادَ. كَذَا فِي شَرْحِ مُنْيَةِ الْمُصَلِّي لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَلَبِيِّ وَكَذَا إذَا انْقَطَعَ فِي خِلَالِ الصَّلَاةِ وَتَمَّ الِانْقِطَاعُ. هَكَذَا فِي الْمُضْمَرَاتِ.
وَيَبْطُلُ الْوُضُوءُ عِنْدَ خُرُوجِ وَقْتِ الْمَفْرُوضَةِ بِالْحَدَثِ السَّابِقِ. هَكَذَا فِي الْهِدَايَةِ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ. هَكَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ فِي نَوَاقِضِ الْوُضُوءِ حَتَّى لَوْ تَوَضَّأَ الْمَعْذُورُ لِصَلَاةِ الْعِيدِ لَهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الظُّهْرَ بِهِ عِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ وَمُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ؛ لِأَنَّهَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ صَلَاةِ الضُّحَى.
Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow
Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel