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Praying when one is in need to answer the call of nature

Question

Is it permissible to pray while holding Wudoo' (ablution)? By "holding Wudoo'" I mean not going to the toilet when one needs to go because he doesn't want to perform Wudoo' again.

Answer

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is disliked for one to pray while withholding urine, faeces or wind, for it is proven that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade performing prayer in such a state. That is because performing prayer in such a state diverts the praying person, and makes him lose Khushoo (submission). However, whoever prays in such a state, his prayer is valid though disliked.

There is no doubt that to offer the prayer with a new ablution without withholding those things is more appropriate than to offer it with a previous ablution while withholding them for the reasons we have already mentioned. Furthermore, to renew ablution for every obligatory prayer is a recommended Sunnah, even if it was not invalidated.

Allaah Knows best.

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