Please i grew up being told that when one releases gas(flatus) three times during solat and he repeats his ablution, the fourth time he need not repeat his ablution. My question now is how often can one repeat his ablution.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

What you have learnt is not correct, and the passing of wind nullifies ablution as the Prophet said: “Whoever amongst you passes wind during the prayer, he should withdraw from the prayer, perform ablution and repeat the prayer.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

Therefore, the passing of wind is one of the things that nullify ablution and if this happens to a praying person while he is performing the prayer, his prayer is void even if it is the fourth time (he passes wind) as his ablution – which is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer – is nullified.

This is in case the passing of wind is normal, however if the passing of wind is continuous in a way that it does not stop for a period in which one can perform ablution and perform the prayer at its prescribed time, then the ruling that applies to such person is the same as that of someone who has incontinence of urine. In which case, the person should perform ablution after the time of the prayer had started, and then he performs the obligatory prayer and as much supererogatory prayers as he wishes. It does not matter if he passes wind even if it is the first time unless he passes wind deliberately, or that a nullifier of ablution happens to him other than his continuous nullifier (breaking wind frequently).

However, if the passing of wind stops for a period of time during which he may perform ablution and pray, then he is obligated to delay the prayer to that time, even if by delaying it, he misses the congregational prayer because fulfilling the condition for the validity of the prayer comes in priority over performing it in congregation. This is of course if he does not fear the time of the prayer to be expired, because if he fears that, he should perform ablution and take the initiative to perform the prayer in any condition he is. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86400.

Allaah Knows best.