Ruling on Frequent Urine Leakage in Relation to Salah and Leading Prayer
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Chapter: Issues of Purification, Vol. 1, p. 90
A question was raised regarding a man who was previously healthy but has recently developed a condition in which he frequently experiences urine leakage. He performs wudu with great care, ensuring complete cleanliness, but upon going into sujood, he feels as if a few drops of urine have been discharged. Despite taking full precautions, this concern troubles him during Salah.
The questions are:
◈ Is his Salah valid in such a condition?
◈ Can he lead Salah as an Imam?
◈ What is the detailed Shari’ah solution?
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
This situation can be classified into two scenarios:
If urine droplets appear only sometimes and not continuously, then:
➊ Whenever a drop is discharged, wudu is nullified.
➋ A new wudu must be performed before Salah.
➌ Offering Salah without renewing wudu will be invalid.
If droplets are discharged so frequently that the entire Salah time cannot pass in complete purity, then such a person is considered a ma’dhur (one with a valid excuse).
In this case:
➊ He should perform fresh wudu at the beginning of each Salah time.
➋ With this wudu, he can perform both obligatory and voluntary prayers.
➌ His wudu will remain valid until the time for the next prayer begins, even if leakage continues.
In such cases, Shari’ah applies the same ruling given for a woman suffering from istihadah (non-menstrual bleeding), as mentioned in Ahadith:
❀ “The woman should perform wudu for every prayer and then offer Salah.”
By analogy, a man with frequent urine leakage should perform fresh wudu at each prayer time, and that will be considered his state of purity.
◈ Such a person can lead Salah.
◈ Since he performs wudu at the start of each prayer time, he is considered pure according to Shari’ah.
◈ Shari’ah does not prohibit such a person from Salah; rather, it provides a facilitated path for worship through wudu.
➊ If the condition is temporary, any leakage invalidates wudu, and a fresh wudu is required before Salah.
➋ If the condition is continuous, he should perform wudu at the start of each Salah time and offer prayers.
➌ Salah is valid in this state, and he may lead prayers as an Imam.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Chapter: Issues of Purification, Vol. 1, p. 90
Background of the Question
A question was raised regarding a man who was previously healthy but has recently developed a condition in which he frequently experiences urine leakage. He performs wudu with great care, ensuring complete cleanliness, but upon going into sujood, he feels as if a few drops of urine have been discharged. Despite taking full precautions, this concern troubles him during Salah.
The questions are:
◈ Is his Salah valid in such a condition?
◈ Can he lead Salah as an Imam?
◈ What is the detailed Shari’ah solution?
Answer: Detailed Clarification in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
This situation can be classified into two scenarios:
① If the condition occurs occasionally
If urine droplets appear only sometimes and not continuously, then:
➊ Whenever a drop is discharged, wudu is nullified.
➋ A new wudu must be performed before Salah.
➌ Offering Salah without renewing wudu will be invalid.
② If the condition is continuous and persistent
If droplets are discharged so frequently that the entire Salah time cannot pass in complete purity, then such a person is considered a ma’dhur (one with a valid excuse).
In this case:
➊ He should perform fresh wudu at the beginning of each Salah time.
➋ With this wudu, he can perform both obligatory and voluntary prayers.
➌ His wudu will remain valid until the time for the next prayer begins, even if leakage continues.
Reference: The Case of a Woman with Istihadah
In such cases, Shari’ah applies the same ruling given for a woman suffering from istihadah (non-menstrual bleeding), as mentioned in Ahadith:
❀ “The woman should perform wudu for every prayer and then offer Salah.”
By analogy, a man with frequent urine leakage should perform fresh wudu at each prayer time, and that will be considered his state of purity.
Ruling on Leading Prayer (Imamat)
◈ Such a person can lead Salah.
◈ Since he performs wudu at the start of each prayer time, he is considered pure according to Shari’ah.
◈ Shari’ah does not prohibit such a person from Salah; rather, it provides a facilitated path for worship through wudu.
Conclusion
➊ If the condition is temporary, any leakage invalidates wudu, and a fresh wudu is required before Salah.
➋ If the condition is continuous, he should perform wudu at the start of each Salah time and offer prayers.
➌ Salah is valid in this state, and he may lead prayers as an Imam.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
