Chronic Gas Problems

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question

I have chronic stomach problems which means I usually pass gas in salah. Some foods have a greater effect on me – but even when I fast and am not eating, I still pass gas.

a) When I eat something I know would affect my stomach, does that invalidate my wudu?
b) Can I pray two prayers with one wudu (for example, dhur, then asr)?
c) Usually, I pass gas in salat, but sometimes I don’t.  When I don’t, am I still considered an excused person?
d) Can I make wudu and pray after one hour?

Answer

I hope you are in the best of health and spirits, insha’Allah.

In order to be considered an excused person, one must fulfill the conditions. The condition of initiation is that an entire prayer time passes with the excuse (that renders one unable to retain wudu) present such that one did not have enough time to perform a minimal wudu and pray a quick prayer. (See here for further details: The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution)

It is necessary to take all reasonable means to stop the excuse from occurring. For example, if it is possible to pray sitting (on the floor) without gas exiting, one must pray sitting.

The above is based upon the gas actually exiting, and one’s certainty in this. One does not act upon doubts and misgivings, even if strong. Many a time, it is an uncomfortable sensation or “feeling”, and not an actual exiting of gas. If one is in such difficulty, unless one: [1] hears or smells something, or is [2] absolutely certain that something exited, one should ignore the “sensation” completely.

[a] No, eating something knowing that it may give one some difficulty would not affect one’s ablution. However, it may be better to avoid, if reasonably possible.

[b] If it is established that you have an excuse, you would perform the ablution (wudu) for each prayer time.

[c] One would no longer be considered an excused person if a complete prayer time passed without the occurrence of the excuse.

[d] If it is established that you have an excuse, the occurrence of the excuse within the prayer time will not invalidate your ablution (wudu).

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “How amazing is the matter of the believer! All of his matter is good, and this is not for anyone except the believer. If ease comes his way, he is thankful, so it is good for him. And if hard times hit him, he is patient, so it is good for him.” [Muslim]

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan, and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.