Fatwa ID: 01313

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

I have question regarding Salah.

I have a problem with my bowels which means I have to complete a full ablution including Istinja every time i go to do my wudu.
When i am at home or at the masjid this is not a problem. When i am at work this is a problem. I have 3 breaks at work 30 min lunch, 2 x 15 min breaks.

I can complete the full ablution and read zohar salah during my 30min lunch break. However when it comes to asar and Magrib i only have 15 min each. So i do not have enough time to complete my ablutions and pray and then get back to work etc.

What can I do in this situation?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Your question will be looked at in the following two ways

Firstly, if the discharge is continuous to the extent that you are unable to do wudhu and read the compulsory rakaats of the fardh prayer you will be considered a Mazoor.

One will become a Ma’zoor only if the state of impurity lasts for one complete duration of a Salah time. If throughout this time, blood, urine or any other impurities flowed or dripped continuously, not enabling one to make wudhu and perform the Fardh Salah with purity, then one will be known as a Ma’zoor.

For example, if the illness occurred 15 minutes before isha salah (the last portion of the duration of the magrib salah), then the actual time of being a Ma’zoor will be reckoned from the start of isha salah.

During this time if the illness stopped long enough to enable one to make the faraaidh of wudhu (face, arms etc…) and just the Fardh Salah, then one will not be considered a Ma’zoor.

After qualifying as a Ma’zoor, one will remain a Ma’zoor as long as the bleeding, discharge etc… does not stop for one full Salah time.

Upon becoming a Ma’zoor, it is not necessary for the bleeding to be continuous in the succeeding Salah times.  It will suffice if the bleeding was for just a moment for one of succeeding Salah times for the person to continue to be considered a Ma’zoor.

A Mazoor shall make Wudhu for every Fardh Salah. The wudhu of a Mazoor remains valid for the duration of the Salah time and all the factors which break wudhu besides the factor responsible for making one Mazoor, will nullify the wudhu of a Mazoor. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.77 v.2)

Therefore, if your problem or illness is really bad you can pray salah even though something is being discharged or released from your private parts.

The second situation is that your illness is not severe to the extent that it makes you Mazoor. In that case you are obliged to pray salah with wudhu otherwise your salah will not be done.

My advice with regards to your situation will be to take your break just before the disliked time of Asr (which is approximately 20 minutes before sunset) and try praying your salah then. Furthermore, you will be allowed to pray your salah even though something may be discharging during the state of salah.

However, it should be borne in mind that you will not become a Mazoor yet the state of impurity lasts for one complete duration of a salah time.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham