Question
A man was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had surgery last week. They redirected the intestine so that the waste does not leave his body via the normal exit, but instead exits via his stomach into a bag. This bag will be with him possibly for the rest of his life.
All wind and stools will pass via the stoma into the attached bag (he will have no control over when and how often). He had an ileostomy where the small bowel (small intestine) is diverted through an opening (stoma) in the tummy (abdomen). Most people pass stools between 3-6 times a day. It can take time for your bowel movement to settle. It is attached to him and he has to wear it all the time.
Some people choose to change the bag a few times a week and just empty it up to 3-6 times a day. There is an opening and the bottom which can be sealed once the bag has been emptied.
He is a 70 year uncle who spends his time in the masjid so naturally this surgery has caused him great worries – (apart from the obvious physical and mental distress.)
He has asked my friend to seek help in answering his concerns:
- What will validate or nullify his wudhu and salah?
- Can he take the bag into the Masjid and if so what are the conditions?
- He may not be able to control the passing of wind – will this nullify his wudhu and his salah?
- If the bag is full – does this nullify his wudhu and salah?
- When he empties the bag does this nullify his wudhu?
- Can he read the Quran? What are the conditions?
Answer
- The person in question falls in the category of a Shari’ee Maa’zoor. He is required to renew his Wudhu with the entry of every Salaah time and is permitted to perform Salaah, recite Quraan Sharif, etc. with the same Wudhu even though the bag may be filling up with impurities all the time.
The passing of impurities from the stomach into the bag will not be considered as a nullifier of Wudhu for this particular person due to him being categorized as Maa’zoor. However, the moment the current Salaah time terminates and the new Salaah time enters he will be required to renew his Wudhu. This will be the procedure for every Salaah time.
He will continuously remain in the category of a Ma’zoor as long as he has the bag attached to him and impurities and being transferred into the bag. If he ever reaches a stage where the bag is removed and no impurities emerge for a complete Salaah time from the body then he will no longer remain as a Shari’ee Maa’zoor, but the normal rules and regulation of Tahaarat will once again become applicable to him.
If his Wudhu is nullified as a result of one of the other breakers of Wudhu other than what has been discussed above (such as for example spewing out a mouthful or bleeding from a wound, etc.), then due to the breaker being of different category/type Wudhu will be nullified, even though he is categorized as Maa’zoor. We do hope that this paragraph provides ample explanation.
- Generally, it is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi to take any such item that gives off a bad odour into the Masjid and particularly if there is a fear of the Masjid being soiled. However, due to the bag being attached to a Maa’zoor person it will be considered to be part of his stomach. Therefore, if there isn’t any stench being given off, nor do people express any resentment towards it, and the bag is even concealed from the gazes of people, then going to the Masjid whilst carrying the bag will be permissible.
- If he has been categorized as Maa’zoor due to not having control of his stool and passing of wind as this is being transferred into the bag continuously (as explained in the query), then his Wudhu and Salaah will not be nullified due to his inability of controlling his wind.
- By the filling of the bag to maximum capacity, Wudhu of a person will not be invalidated, neither will Wudhu be invalidated when emptying the bag.
- Yes, he may perform Salaah whether Fardh, Nafl, Qadah, etc. and recite Quraan Sharif after performing a fresh Wudhu in every Salaah time. However, some Ulema have written that such a person should try and use a cloth (or pen) to turn the pages of the Quraan Sharif, but if this is not possible then he may use his hands.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg.633 Vol.2
Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg.629 Vol.2
Aap ke Masaa’il Aur Unka Hal Pg. 159 Vol. 3