Fatwa ID: 05528

Answered by: Maulana Yusuf Khan

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum. I suffer from gas problems and pass wind often. I was preparing for the Isha prayer and was doing wudu in the washroom. While doing this I had the urge to pass wind but I kept it in. Then after maybe 2 3 minutes, I smelled something similar to the smell when a person passes wind. Only 3 or 4 minutes remained till the time of congregation and I suffer from a lot of waswassas so I thought maybe this is shaitan trying to make me late for prayer and also I smelled at 2 3 minutes after I held in the wind so it didn’t make sense that I would smell it this late. So I didn’t redo wudu.

But in the hadith, it is said that if we smell something we should redo wudu but I wasn’t certain whether that smell was from my wind or not and if it was then how could I smell it late. So did I do the wrong thing or the right?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

If you are suffering from doubts in regard to whether you have passed gas or not, it is important to take into account the ruling ‘certainty is not overcome by doubt’.

The meaning of this is that if you are certain, you have not passed wind then any doubt that occurs as a result of whispers should not be ignored. However, it is important to take into account things like smell, and other signs. It is also recommended to speak to a doctor in regard to this who may be able to provide a diagnosis in which case you will be regarded as “ma’zoor” [excused].

If at the time you believed you had wudhu and did not pass wind with certainty, then you are not at fault and did the correct thing. You may have a gastric medical condition, or the smell may have been from something else.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Yusuf Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham