Chapter on the dislike of praying in the presence of food that one desires, or while struggling to relieve oneself, namely urination and defecation.
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The Shaykh : Then the author mentioned the second chapter: regarding the dislike of a person praying in the presence of food that he desires, or while struggling to relieve himself of the two impurities:
So it was narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): : This means that if food is presented to a person and he desires it, he should not pray until he has satisfied his need from it. Even if he hears people praying in the mosque, he may remain and eat until he is full. "Indeed, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to hear the recitation of the imam while he was eating his dinner, and he would not stand up until he had finished". This is because if a person enters prayer while his heart is preoccupied, he will not be tranquil in his prayer, nor will he be humble in it; his heart will be with his food. A person should pray after he has finished with everything. [Ash-Sharh 94:7-8], but he should not make this a habit for himself, such that he does not present his dinner or lunch except at the time of the iqamah.
The second: : Urination and defecation. This also removes humility, because a person does not know whether he will be struggling with the urination or defecation that is holding him back, or whether he will focus on his prayer. Also, because holding in urine or feces harms the body. Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has created places for urine and feces, and when they are full, they must be expelled. So for a person to hold that in is harmful to him.
So if someone says: "If I go to relieve myself, I will miss the prayer with the congregation?" We say: There is no harm; go and relieve yourself, even if you miss the prayer.
And if he says: "If the time becomes tight and he is holding in urine or feces, should he relieve himself and then pray, even if the time passes, or should he pray within the time even if his heart is preoccupied?"
In this, there is disagreement among the scholars. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) "held the view that he should relieve himself even if the time passes, because this is a necessity and holding it in would harm his body".
And most of the scholars said: "The time does not pass because of that; rather, he should pray and shorten it, and perhaps he will not be harmed by it".
So it was narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There is no prayer in the presence of food, nor while one is struggling to relieve oneself of the two impurities."
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : لا صلاة بحضرة طعام ، ولا وهو يدافعه الأخبثان(7) So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (8) And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
فإذا فرغت فانصب * وإلى ربك فارغبThe second:
There is no prayer while one is struggling to relieve oneself of the two impurities.
لا صلاة وهو يدافعه الأخبثانSo if someone says: "If I go to relieve myself, I will miss the prayer with the congregation?" We say: There is no harm; go and relieve yourself, even if you miss the prayer.
And if he says: "If the time becomes tight and he is holding in urine or feces, should he relieve himself and then pray, even if the time passes, or should he pray within the time even if his heart is preoccupied?"
In this, there is disagreement among the scholars. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) "held the view that he should relieve himself even if the time passes, because this is a necessity and holding it in would harm his body".
And most of the scholars said: "The time does not pass because of that; rather, he should pray and shorten it, and perhaps he will not be harmed by it".