many women i know experience the problem of continuous discharge, which can be a big problem whilst praying salat. e.g. wudhu will be done for isha salat, but 15-20 mins later discharge may be felt (during/after salat), so would we need to do wudhu again? if someone did wudhu e.g. for zuhr, then can they pray their asr salat with this wudhu or would we have to make a new one every namaz time? also, under what conditions does one become classed as a ma’zoor? (in this case would these women?)

i would really appreciate it if one of the muftis answered this question in as much detail as possible, as we have asked other scholars, but have been receiving differing answers.

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

Answer

A person who due to some illness, etc… continuously remains in the state of impurity, being unable to remain in the state of purity long enough to perform Salaah is called a Ma’zoor.

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. The time will be reckoned from the Salah time immediately following the Salah time in which the illness etc… happened.

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 continous in the succeeding Salah times, it will suffice if the bleeding was for just a moment for one to be continue to be considered a Ma’zoor.

A Ma’zoor shall make Wudhu for every Fardh Salah. The wudhu of a Ma’zoor remains valid for the duration of the Salah time and all the factors which break wudhu besides the factor responsible for making one Ma’zoor, will nullify the wudhu of a Ma’zoor. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.77 v.2 & Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.298 v.1)

In regards to vaginal discharge there are two possible situations:

1.      The first is that it is considered like those impurities which come out of ones private parts which break the wudhu, hence, in this situation wudhu will also break. This also includes all female discharges. (Raddul Muhtar p.260 v.1)

2.      The second situation is that it is considered the wetness a woman feels outside her vagina. This in Arabic is called “rutubat al-farj” (chronic vaginal discharge) that comes out normally and regularly, and is clear and not discoloured. This is deemed pure, thus the wudhu will not break. (Raddul Muhtar p.305 v.1)

The conclusion of the answer is that if the discharge is so bad that you do not have time in which you are able to do the faraaidh of wudhu and read the Fardh Salah without the discharge returning then you will be considered a Ma’zoor, thus, it will be permitted for you to read Salah with this illness. You should do Wudhu for each Salah. If the discharge is not bad then you should insert a pad or cotton inside to prevent the discharge from coming. Until the discharge does not show on the area of the pad, which is beyond the inner part of the vagina, the wudhu will not break. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.197 v.16)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.