Question (Q-07):
If a person is wearing a catheter (the urine still flows but the bag stops urine from reaching the ground or the clothes), can he enter a Masjid in this state?
Answer:
With the Name of the Almighty
Answer with the help of the Almighty King and Bestower:
It is necessary to protect the Masājid from impurity. It is impermissible to take impurity into the Masājid. It is stated in Radd ul Muhtār,
وكره تحريما…إدخال نجاسة فيه
“It is severely disliked to take impurity into it (the Masjid).”
It is mentioned in Al Ashbāh wan Nadhāir,
وإدخال نجاسة يخاف منها التلويث
“Taking impurity (into the Masjid is severely disliked) when there is fear of polluting the Masjid.”
It is stated in Bahār e Sharī’at, “Taking impurity into the Masjid or having impurity on the body is forbidden even if the Masjid is not polluted by this.”
Due to the continuous flowing of urine, such an ill person is Ma’dhūr (excused) so he has to do wudhū for each Salāh time. His wudhū is not invalidated due to the flowing of urine during the time of the Salaah for which he does wudhū. Therefore Salāh is nevertheless obligatory upon such an ill person.
The aforementioned rules (about prohibition of taking impurity into a Masjid) are the general rules. However the person with such an illness is like a woman who suffers from Istihādhah (irregular bleeding). If the catheter bag is strongly tied to the extent that the urine cannot drop in the Masjid and it is not visible so as to avoid causing distress to other members of the congregation then due to this ‘udhr (valid reason), he is permitted to enter the Masjid with the catheter.
It is stated in ‘Umdat ul Qari commentary on Sahīh Al Bukhārī that a rule is derived from the Hadīth that the I’tikāf (seclusion) of a woman suffering from Istihādhah (irregular bleeding) is permissible along with her Salāh. This is because she is like women who are pure from menstruation when in this situation of irregular bleeding. This is also because she has a pad etc. which prevents blood from reaching her body and the Masjid. The other reason for this is that the blood of Istihādhah (irregular bleeding) is thin unlike the blood of menstruation. Those things similar to irregular bleeding such as continuous urine, madhy (urethral fluid), wady (fluid that is emitted after urination) and the flowing pus from wounds have the same ruling as irregular bleeding. This means that they can all enter the Masjid and perform I’tikāf there. The words of ‘Umdat ul Qārī are;
ويؤخذ منه جواز اعتكاف المستحاضة وجواز صلاتها لأن حالها حال الطاهرات وأنها تضع الطست لئلا يصيب ثوبها أو المسجد وأن دم الاستحاضة رقيق ليس كدم الحيض ويلحق بالمستحاضة ما في معناها كمن به سلس البول والمذي والودي ومن به جرح يسيل في جواز الاعتكاف
It is important that the situation of the catheter be considered. If there is a fear of leakage then it is Makrūh at tahrimi (severely disliked) to enter the Masjid with the catheter. If the catheter is strong and there is no fear of polluting the Masjid then it is permissible for the ill person to enter the Masjid with the catheter.
And Allah the Glorified and Exalted knows best.
Answered by: Shaykh Omar Khan
Verified by: Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
