Q. I read that a person suffering from incontinence or involuntary wind discharge could offer his prayer and not interrupt it even though he may discharge urine or wind during prayer. Is this true? May I ask, then, whether the same could be applied to a person who has no such complaint but finds out that his ablution has been invalidated when he is already in the Haram in Makkah, and the prayer is called. If he is to go out to renew his ablution, he will take long and he is certain to miss the prayer.
R. Habeeb
A. Incontinence is a physical disease in which a person loses control of the discharge of urine. A similar complaint is that when one cannot control the discharge of wind. If one suffers from incontinence, one should tie a small polythene bag to his genital organ, in which he puts a piece of cotton or tissue paper. This would ensure that his clothes remain unaffected by the impurity. When he wants to pray, he changes this with a clean one and performs ablution. He then prays straight-away. He may go to the mosque for congregational prayer, even if he has to wait for the congregation to start. He prays the obligatory prayer and whatever Sunnah he wishes to add. His prayer is valid, even though a discharge may occur at any time. He does this for every prayer, doing a fresh ablution for each. A person with involuntary wind discharge complaint also performs a fresh ablution for each prayer. He then prays and ignores any discharge that he makes involuntarily. It is important to remember that ablution, or wudhu, should be done after the obligatory prayer becomes due, unless one wants to go to the mosque and the time would be short. In this case, he performs the ablution as close to the prayer time as possible.
This is a concession granted to people with illness or disorder. We cannot extend it to healthy people simply because it is convenient. In the situation you have described, there is no way an exemption can be granted. The person concerned must leave and renew his ablutions. There are facilities close to the Haram. He may miss the congregational prayer, but God may reward him for his intention not to miss it. He can still offer his prayer, after renewing his ablution, although he will have to pray on his own.
Invitation by non-Muslim to Iftar
Q.1. If a non-Muslim invites us to an Iftar, or fast-ending meal, is it all right to eat at his place?
A.1. This is perfectly permissible, particularly if the person inviting you is a good person who is friendly to Muslims and does not engage in any activity that is hostile to Islam.
Arab News Islam 28 April 2003
