الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وبعد:
Question 181: I struggle with differentiating between actually passing gas and the gas sensations I feel during prayer, which is compounded by my existing digestive issues. When I bend or sit in sujud, I often feel bubbly sensations or air passing through, leading to intense doubt about whether I’ve actually passed gas. I usually have to repeat my wudu countless times. How can I manage these doubts effectively while adhering to the guidance of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم regarding prayer and wudu?
Answer: With regards to this question, I will first talk about the matter of wiswās (whisperings of the devil), because I've had many questions relating to this topic. So, I think this is a good point and juncture, inshAllah ta'ala, to discuss this issue. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us all success.
The Prophet ﷺ directed us to the cure and remedy for wiswās, the cure and remedy as it relates to the whisperings of the devil. We find in the authentic hadith in Bukhari and Muslim 📚:
«فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ وَلْيَنْتَهِ»
📚 صحيح البخاري - 3276
"If this happens to them, if they experience this, then they must seek refuge with Allah and refrain from paying attention to it."
It's important for us to understand, brothers and sisters, that the objective of the shaitan, the devil, when presenting these doubts and whisperings is to create anxiety, confusion, and difficulty for the person, possibly leading them to refrain from doing good and beneficial acts, causing them distress and worry, because shaitan is the enemy to mankind.
And the cure that we find in this hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
«فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللهِ وَلْيَنْتَهِ»
"If they experience this, then they must seek refuge with Allah."
So, the first cure is what? To seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil, the shaitan, and its plots and plans. The Prophet ﷺ commanded that the individual seek refuge with Allah because if Allah protects you, then nothing can harm you. Success is from Allah alone, and the plots and plans of the devil are weak.
The second thing that we find in this hadith is:
وَلْيَنْتَهِ
"They should ignore these whispers and pay no attention to them whatsoever." Do not act upon them nor allow them to hinder you from good. Ignore them.
Individuals who may have asked me about these things in person know, alhamdulillah, the way that we've managed by the tawfiq (success) of Allah Azza wa Jal to get over these types of occurrences. Success is from Allah Azza wa Jal alone, Tabaraka wa Ta'ala, by implementing what we find in the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
So, what we find in this hadith is a general cure and remedy as it relates to this illness, this wiswās, that affects many people, إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ اللَّهُ.
Also, as it relates to this question specifically, in this situation highlighted in the question, we can offer further advice based upon the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ. And the best guidance is the guidance of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This shows the importance of seeking knowledge, طلب العلم.
It comes in the authentic hadith, narrated by Abu Hurairah may Allah be pleased with him., that the Prophet ﷺ said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ :
«إِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي بَطْنِهِ شَيْئًا، فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَخَرَجَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ أَمْ لَا، فَلَا يَخْرُجَنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا، أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا»
📚 [صحيح مسلم - 362]
"If one of you feels something in their stomach, and is unsure if anything has come out, then they should not leave the masjid (to perform wudu) until they hear a sound or perceive a smell."