❀ Ruling on Offering Prayer While Wearing a Diaper Due to Illness ❀
By: Esteemed Scholar Khizr Hayat (حفظہ اللہ)
If an elderly person uses a diaper due to illness, can they offer prayer in such a condition?
If an elderly person is unable to control urination or defecation and impurities are discharged intermittently, then this is considered a state of necessity (اضطرار).
In such a condition, the patient should use a diaper or another protective cloth in order to prevent impurity from spreading to the rest of the body or clothing. After taking this precaution, the person may perform Salah and other acts of worship that require purification.
Such a patient should perform one ablution (wudhu) and can offer one obligatory prayer along with its Sunnah and Nawafil, as the Prophet ﷺ said to Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish (رضی اللہ عنہا):
“إِذَا كَانَ الْآخَرُ, فَتَوَضَّئِي وَصَلِّي, فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ عِرْقٌ”
[Abu Dawood: 286]
"When the other (blood) appears, then perform ablution and pray, for it is only blood from a vein."
After completing the prayer, the ablution will no longer remain valid. For the next prayer, the patient will have to:
① Perform Istinja (cleanse oneself),
② Change the soiled diaper or cloth, and
③ Perform fresh ablution (wudhu) before offering the prayer.
By: Esteemed Scholar Khizr Hayat (حفظہ اللہ)
❖ Question:
If an elderly person uses a diaper due to illness, can they offer prayer in such a condition?
❖ Answer by Esteemed Scholar Khizr Hayat (حفظہ اللہ):
If an elderly person is unable to control urination or defecation and impurities are discharged intermittently, then this is considered a state of necessity (اضطرار).
In such a condition, the patient should use a diaper or another protective cloth in order to prevent impurity from spreading to the rest of the body or clothing. After taking this precaution, the person may perform Salah and other acts of worship that require purification.
Such a patient should perform one ablution (wudhu) and can offer one obligatory prayer along with its Sunnah and Nawafil, as the Prophet ﷺ said to Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish (رضی اللہ عنہا):
“إِذَا كَانَ الْآخَرُ, فَتَوَضَّئِي وَصَلِّي, فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ عِرْقٌ”
[Abu Dawood: 286]
"When the other (blood) appears, then perform ablution and pray, for it is only blood from a vein."
✔ Important Note:
After completing the prayer, the ablution will no longer remain valid. For the next prayer, the patient will have to:
① Perform Istinja (cleanse oneself),
② Change the soiled diaper or cloth, and
③ Perform fresh ablution (wudhu) before offering the prayer.
