Ruling on Doubt Regarding the Invalidation of Ablution
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This is a message from the sender from Al-Ras (M. M. M). He says in his message: What is the ruling for one who doubts whether his ablution has been invalidated? Does he perform ablution or not? May Allah reward you.
Answer: If a person doubts whether his ablution has been invalidated, he does not have to perform ablution, provided he knew he was in a state of purity. For example, if he performed ablution and knew he was pure for the Zuhr prayer, and then he doubts whether his purity was invalidated or not, he does not have to perform ablution. Rather, he prays Asr with his original purity. The same applies to similar cases. If he performed ablution for the Duha prayer and prayed Duha, and then he doubts whether his purity was invalidated, he does not perform ablution. It is not obligatory for him to perform ablution for Zuhr; rather, he prays with the purity he had for Duha. Similarly, at night, if he performs Tahajjud and then Fajr arrives and he doubts whether he passed wind or not, there is no blame on him and he does not have to perform ablution. Rather, he prays with his previous ablution that he performed during the night, and he does not need to perform ablution because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about a man who feels something during prayer, said:Sahih Muslim 361 It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In another wording, when they asked, they said: The conclusion is that he does not have to renew his ablution until he is certain and knows that he passed wind, urinated, defecated, ate camel meat, or something similar among the things that invalidate ablution. The conclusion is that it is not obligatory for him to perform ablution unless he is certain that the invalidating factor is present, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 177Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning: until he is certain of the occurrence of the state of impurity. If he is not certain, the original state is purity. He has three states:
A state where he is certain that he passed wind; in that case, he has to perform ablution.
A state where he is certain that he did not pass wind; praise be to Allah, he prays with his original ablution.
The third state is doubt: Did he pass wind or not? It may be more likely in his mind that he passed wind, or it may be more likely in his mind that he did not pass wind, or the two possibilities may be equal. In these three states, it is not obligatory for him to perform ablution until he is certain that he passed wind. Yes.
The presenter: But which is better, performing multiple prayers with one ablution, or performing ablution for every obligatory prayer?
The Shaykh: Performing ablution for every prayer is better; because of the good and benefit in ablution. Ablution has great virtue. So, if he performs ablution for every prayer, there is great virtue in that. And if he prays several prayers with one ablution, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this at times, just as a person may pray the combined Zuhr and Asr with one ablution while traveling, or Maghrib and Isha with one ablution while traveling or when ill. Yes.
Answer: If a person doubts whether his ablution has been invalidated, he does not have to perform ablution, provided he knew he was in a state of purity. For example, if he performed ablution and knew he was pure for the Zuhr prayer, and then he doubts whether his purity was invalidated or not, he does not have to perform ablution. Rather, he prays Asr with his original purity. The same applies to similar cases. If he performed ablution for the Duha prayer and prayed Duha, and then he doubts whether his purity was invalidated, he does not perform ablution. It is not obligatory for him to perform ablution for Zuhr; rather, he prays with the purity he had for Duha. Similarly, at night, if he performs Tahajjud and then Fajr arrives and he doubts whether he passed wind or not, there is no blame on him and he does not have to perform ablution. Rather, he prays with his previous ablution that he performed during the night, and he does not need to perform ablution because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about a man who feels something during prayer, said:
He should not return (from prayer) unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell (of passing wind).
لا ينصرف حتى يسمع صوتاً أو يجد ريحاًO Messenger of Allah, a man feels something in his belly. He said: He does not leave the mosque until he hears a sound or finds wind.
يا رسول الله، رجل يجد الشيء في بطنه قال: لا يخرج من المسجد حتى يسمع صوتاً أو يجد ريحاًhe should not cease praying unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell.
فلا ينصرف حتى يسمع صوتاً أو يجد ريحاًA state where he is certain that he passed wind; in that case, he has to perform ablution.
A state where he is certain that he did not pass wind; praise be to Allah, he prays with his original ablution.
The third state is doubt: Did he pass wind or not? It may be more likely in his mind that he passed wind, or it may be more likely in his mind that he did not pass wind, or the two possibilities may be equal. In these three states, it is not obligatory for him to perform ablution until he is certain that he passed wind. Yes.
The presenter: But which is better, performing multiple prayers with one ablution, or performing ablution for every obligatory prayer?
The Shaykh: Performing ablution for every prayer is better; because of the good and benefit in ablution. Ablution has great virtue. So, if he performs ablution for every prayer, there is great virtue in that. And if he prays several prayers with one ablution, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did this at times, just as a person may pray the combined Zuhr and Asr with one ablution while traveling, or Maghrib and Isha with one ablution while traveling or when ill. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.