How Does Clear Rectal Discharge Affect My State of Purity?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I have been dealing with rectal discharge a few times now, but I am unsure what causes it. It does not come out as stool but rather as a clear liquid.

As the Shafi’i rulings are strict, I would like to ask about its ruling and whether this condition affects my prayers, purity and cleanliness, clothes, and where I sit (e.g., chair/bed) when I have this discharge.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah grant us true faith and guide us to that which pleases Him, Amin.

May Allah alleviate your trouble and facilitate ease for you. You should try to ascertain the origin of the discharge (ask a doctor if required), as that would determine how it affects you.

External Origin

If it comes from the inside, then it breaks your wudu and is filth (najis). If it is external, it does not break your wudu, nor is it filth (najis), and Allah knows best. [Ba ‘Alawi, Bughya Al-Mustarshidin]

Internal Origin

Anything that exits from inside the two private parts will nullify ablution. A mucus that exits the anus due to hemorrhoids or other reasons will also cause the nullification of ablution and filth (najis). [ibid.]

Beware of Waswas

With that said, one needs to be careful not to fall into baseless misgivings. If your discharge is internal, your ablution will only be considered void when the substance exits and you are made aware of the exiting.

Thus, if you pray and then after the prayer, you notice such mucus, you should assume that the mucus exited after the completion of your prayer, not before or during it, in which case your prayer is valid. In other words, assume that the mucus only exited the moment before you become aware of it unless you are confident that it occurred earlier due to clear indicators.

Frequency

Again, suppose your discharge originates from inside. In that case, if this happens frequently, you should treat it as one with incontinence or chronic flatulence does in terms of preparing for prayer and taking measures to protect your clothing, etc.

I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan. 

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.