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Fatwa CenterPraying in state of impurity strictly forbidden for one who can avoid it
Question
Assalaamu alaykum, Brother. I really need your help. I suffer from urinary retention of the temporary type, meaning that after the call of nature, urine keeps coming out (in small amounts) for about one hour, and it then stops completely. Thus, according to the fatwa of the scholars, I have to refrain from praying during that period until the urine stops, even if that means that I miss that prayer in congregation. Then I purify myself and pray at home (during the prescribed time of that particular prayer). My question is as follows: In case I have just answered the call of nature, it is really embarassing to inform people about that problem; hence, when I am among my friends or relatives, I really do not know how to explain to them that I cannot pray along with them at that moment. If I refuse to accompany them to the mosque, they might think that I am a person who does not pray. So am I allowed, in such exceptional cases, to pray in congregation even though urine is coming out (so as to prevent my friends from thinking that I do not pray)?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
What you are doing now, waiting until you pray in a state of perfect purity is the right thing to do, and it is impermissible for you to join the prayer while urine is still coming out given that it stops eventually. Rather, praying while in a state of ritual impurity is a major sin.
As for your fear that your friends might think ill of you, you can avoid that by telling them the truth about your condition. There should be no embarrassment in telling them this, since no one is ever free of illness all the time. If you find it inconvenient to tell them, you may resort to intimation, like leaving before the prayer is due or giving them the impression that you will pray somewhere else, or similar actions that spare you the embarrassment. As for joining the prayer in the mentioned state, it is impermissible under any circumstances.
Allah knows best.
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