I Feel Certain That I Repeatedly Break My Wudu, Even During Prayer; What Should I Do?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: I seem to suffer from flatus incontinence and persistent whisperings of the shayatin. I spend ages in the ablution room repeating my wudhu and prayer for every time I seem to break my wudhu. Spending 20 – 40 min for wudhu and having to repeat a prayer numerous times has become a norm for every prayer. Almost always late for my lectures, I keep regretting over not only not being able to pray but also not respecting my professors. While I have read about ignoring thoughts that one has broken his wudhu if unsure about it, I find this difficult to follow, for most of the time I am very much certain, if not every time. What should I do?
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Your ablution (wudu) is not invalidated unless you hear or smell something. Ignore all else. Misgivings are never to be acted upon; this is contrary to the sunna.
Seek refuge from the Devil before every ablution, and make a short supplication for help and tawfiq. The devil will keep whispering until he convinces you that prayers are too difficult. This is why you need to cut him out and ignore him completely. Keep striving, keep praying, and stay strong. Allah only sent this trial to you because He knew that you could bear it. The One who sent the trial is the One who will lift it.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ““How wondrous is the matter of the believer, for all that happens to him is good: if good befalls him he shows gratitude, and it is best for him; and if ill befalls him he shows patience, and it is best for him.” [Muslim]
Please see: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam