What if wind or another nullifier is continuous?
Source-verified English summary of the Shaykh’s ruling. The original Arabic source has been verified. Independent scholarly review is shown separately when completed; refer to the original Arabic source for the Shaykh’s complete wording.
Review status: Independent scholarly review pending.
Short answer
In summary, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen says that a person with a continuous condition such as ongoing wind, urine or another persistent nullifier is excused for what they cannot control. In this answer, he instructs the person to make wudu after the prayer time begins, then pray even if the condition continues during the prayer.
What does that mean?
Continuous is different from occasional
The ruling discussed is for a condition that keeps happening and cannot reasonably be prevented during the prayer.
Pray within your ability
The Shaykh says to make wudu after the time begins and proceed with the prayer rather than repeatedly breaking off because of the unavoidable condition.
Try this scenario
A person has a medical condition causing wind to pass almost continuously, including during salah.
The Shaykh tells the person not to keep restarting the prayer for what they cannot control; make wudu after the time begins and pray.
What can change the answer?
- Is the condition genuinely continuous or does it stop long enough to make wudu and pray?
- Would attending the mosque cause significant harm or offence to others because of odour?
Quick check
- Should a person with truly continuous wind keep restarting the prayer every time it happens?
- NoThe Shaykh treats the continuous condition as excused after the person follows the prescribed purification step.
- Does he tell the person to make wudu after the prayer time begins in this answer?
- YesThat is the practical procedure he gives here.
Why?
The Shaykh compares persistent conditions to the rulings given for continuous bleeding and emphasises that Allah has not placed unbearable hardship in the religion.
Recognised differences
Later statements from the Shaykh include refinements concerning some continuous conditions. This page summarises the ruling in this particular answer; related pages should be read for the fuller picture.
Check you understood
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: Make wudu as prescribed and pray despite the continuation
He treats the ongoing condition as excused rather than making prayer impossible.
Original source
حكم صلاة من ابتلي بخروج الريح أو غيره باستمرار
- Shaykh
- Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله
- Series
- لقاءات الباب المفتوح
- Reference
- لقاء الباب المفتوح [88]
- Review status
- Official Arabic source verified; independent scholarly review pending
Source-verified English summary of the Shaykh’s ruling. The original Arabic source has been verified. Independent scholarly review is shown separately when completed; refer to the original Arabic source for the Shaykh’s complete wording.
You might also wonder
- What should I do if I keep doubting that urine came out after wudu?
- Does cream or oil on the skin prevent wudu?
- Does touching a non-mahram woman break wudu?
- Does touching something impure break wudu?
- What do ‘elbows’, ‘ankles’ and ‘wrists’ mean in the rulings of wudu?
- How do I stop repeating wudu because of constant doubts?