Rulings On Discharge

[ummtaalib]

Many women suffer from continual or substantial vaginal discharge. Knowing that ablution becomes invalid when such fluid comes out of the vagina, it causes much anxiety. This is because the Masaail (Rulings) pertaining to validity of ablution in this condition are not clearly understood. This anxiety can easily be alleviated if a woman determines for herself if she falls under the category of a “Ma’dhoor” or not (Ma’dhoor is one who is excused from the normal Masaail being applied due to excusable circumstances). There are three points which one needs to bear in mind to be able to determine for oneself if one is a Ma’dhoor or not, and if so, until when.

 

1. For a person to come under the category of a Ma’dhoor he/she must suffer from the problem (bleeding, discharge etc) incessantly for a whole prayer time (this means the whole prayer time of one particular Salaat i.e. the time for Dhuhr Salaat is from after Zawwal time till the beginning time of ‘Asr Salaat). Even if the problem stops in this period for a brief time, but NOT enough to enable one to perform minimum ablution (to wash only the Faraaidh parts) and offer a brief Farhd or Waajib Salaat, the person will be considered a Ma’dhoor.

 

2. Once a person comes under the category of a Ma’dhoor, it is not a condition that this state continues incessantly in the next prayer time also. In fact to remain a Ma’dhoor all that is required is that the problem by which he/she became counted as Ma’dhoor be found in the next prayer time even if it is not incessant. This may even mean one has enough time to perform ablution and pray the Fardh Salaat.

 

3. The Ma’dhoor will cease to be counted as such if a single prayer time elapses without that specific problem being found at all. In this case one must pray the current prayer and the one that follows with the normal ablution. (see Bahishti Zewar-urdu-pg 74-75 part 1 and Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol 4 pg 273)

 

Using the above guideline a woman can determine for herself if she falls under the category of a Ma’dhoor or not, and depending on the result, one of the following Mas’alah will apply:

 

a. For a woman suffering from substantial discharge, if it is such that the discharge temporarily stops completely during one prayer time, for long enough to allow her to perform ablution and perform the Fardh Salaat, then it is established that she does NOT fall under the category of a Ma’dhoor.

 

In this case the following Mas’alah can be applied to alleviate distress and overcoming the need to perform ablution frequently – A cotton wool or Tampon may be inserted inside of the inner part of the private part to prevent the fluid from leaving it. As long as the wetness does not come on the surface of the material inserted, the ablution will remain valid. If the cotton wool or Tampon is only inserted in the outer part of the private part and it gets wet, then the ablution will become invalid.

 

* A woman’s fast will NOT become void if she uses something i.e. cotton wool or Tampon to block the discharge

 

b. If a woman suffers from continual discharge or if it stops, but it does NOT allow enough time to perform ablution and pray the Fardh Salaat with cleanliness during the whole prayer time, then she falls under the category of a Ma’dhoor. For a Ma’dhoor it is sufficient to perform ablution once only in any particular prayer time. Therefore she need not worry as she will perform ablution in a particular prayer time, then even if some wetness comes out, the ablution will remain valid and she may pray and read the Qur’an freely for that particular prayer time.

 

However, it should be noted that the ablution will become invalid in that particular prayer time by other factors which nullify ablution i.e. passing wind, nose bleed etc. In this case a new ablution will have to be performed.

 

It is important to understand that if ablution was made due to the excuse then it will not be nullified by the repeated occurrence of that excuse. It will only be nullified by other factors that nullify ablution. If ablution was not made due to the excuse but was made for other reasons besides the excuse, then if the excuse surfaces thereafter, ablution will be nullified.

 

Note: ablution made for Fajr Salaat will remain valid until sunrise. If ablution was made after sunrise then it will be permissible to perform Dhuhr Salaat with this ablution. When ‘Asr time enters then fresh ablution will have to be made for that particular prayer time because ablution of a Ma’dhoor breaks with the expiry of a Salaat time and not with the entry of it.