SECTION ON PURITY · 68 – DOUBTING THE INVALIDATION OF ABLUTION
176 – Sa’id ibn Musaayib (may Allah be pleased with him) and from Abbad ibn Tamim, both of them relating from his uncle, said:
A matter was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) concerning a person who finds movement in his sitting position during prayer and doubts about his ablution.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Let him not invalidate his prayer unless he hears a sound or smells an odor.” [144]
177 – It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "If one of you feels movement in his sitting position during prayer and doubts whether his ablution has been broken or not, he does not know. If he finds himself in a difficult situation, let him not abandon the prayer until he hears a sound or smells an odor.” [145]
EXPLANATION
The movement felt in the sitting position while praying or being in a state of ritual purity does not invalidate either the ablution or the prayer. This is because this movement is not the flatulence that invalidates the ablution. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about whether this movement invalidates the ablution, and he responded by stating the two signs of flatulence which invalidate the ablution: hearing a sound and smelling an odor. If either of these is present, then the ablution and prayer are invalidated. This ruling applies not only within the prayer but also outside of it.