How Should I Deal With Frequent Flatulences Regarding the Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

My doctor says I might be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is the reason behind my frequent flatulence. I asked a sheikh about my wudu problem, and he advised that I need to make only one wudu for every prayer. I understood and have been doing that, but now a doubt has appeared in my mind.

The doubt is that some wind must come out because I am not holding strong enough.

Should I hold it with all my strength? How would I know that I have tried my best?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Ignore misgivings.

If you hear or smell something, you should repeat your ritual ablution (wudu) and prayer. Otherwise, you should continue praying and assume that nothing happened.

There are some specifics related to establishing and maintaining an excused status. (See: The Fiqh of Chronic Excuses and Ablution)

Please also see: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) and:How Should I Deal With Chronic Gas Problems in Prayer?

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

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 memorised 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.