Whoever Breaks Wind during Prayer, should Leave the Prayer

Q: A person entered the first row of worshippers, then he broke wind, but he remained in prayer, in order to avoid cutting the row and being forced to pass between the rows of worshippers behind him, annoying them and disturbing their tranquillity. What is the ruling on this?

A: We hope that Allah will forgive him. It is an obligation upon a person who breaks wind while in prayer, or remembers that he is not in a state of ritual purity, to leave the prayer and go and make ablution, then return and pray what he catches of the congregational prayer. As for the rows of worshippers, the Sutrah (Sutrah: A screen. It refers to an object the Imam or the individual worshipper places in front of him for prayer, such as a wall, a pillar, a stick, a saddle etc., in order to prevent anyone from passing directly in front of him) of the Imam is their Sutrah. So if he passes in front of those being led in prayer, there is no objection to that; but he must leave the row calmly and quietly, so that he does not annoy the other worshippers.

Ibn Jibreen

The Ruling on Jackets manufactured from Pigskin

Q: Recently, sharp disagreements have occurred between us regarding the matter of wearing leather jackets. Some brothers hold that these jackets are sometimes manufactured from pigskin; if this is so, what is your opinion regarding the wearing of them? And is it permissible for us from a religious standpoint, bearing in mind that some books, such as Al-Halal wal-Haram by Al-Qaradhawi andAl-Fiqh 'Alal Mathahib Al-Arba'ah, have dealt with the question, but their conclusions are not to the point, and they have not made the matter absolutely clear. Therefore, we request clarification in this matter.

A: It has been authentically reported from the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) that he said: “Once a skin has been tanned, it is pure” (Muslim no. 366 and Abu Dawud no. 4123) And He (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) said: “Tanning the skin of a dead animal purifies it” (Muslim no. 366 and Abu Dawud no. 4125).

Scholars have disagreed in this regard: Does this Hadith include all types of leather, or does it refer only to the skins of animals which have been made permissible through slaughter?  There is no doubt that the skin of any dead animal which has been made permissible through slaughter, such as the camel, the cow, the sheep etc. is pure, and it is permissible to use it for everything, according to the most authoritative opinion of the scholars. As for the skin of the pig and the dog and other such animals, which it is forbidden to slaughter, there is a difference of opinion regarding its purity among the scholars. The best thing is to avoid using it, based upon the words of  the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam): “Whoever avoids those matters which are unclear, has protected his religion and his honor” (Al-Bukhari no. 52 and Muslim no. 1599) and his words: “Leave whatever causes you to doubt, in favor of whatever does not cause you to doubt” (At-Tirmithi no. 2518).

Ibn Baz

He was unsure whether His Clothes had been polluted by Something while He was praying

Q: If the Imam is unsure whether his clothes have become polluted, and he does not leave the prayer, since it is only a doubt, then when he finishes praying, he finds some filth on his garment, what is the ruling? And should he leave the prayer in this situation, due to only a doubt, or should he wait until he has prayed?

A: if the worshipper is in doubt as to the presence of some pollutant on his garment while praying, it is not permissible for him to abandon the prayer, whether he is the Imam, or a worshipper being led by the Imam, or he is praying alone. He must complete his prayer, and if he finds after that, that there is some pollutant on his garment, there is no obligation on him to make up for it, according to the most authoritative opinion, because he was not aware of its presence until after the prayer. It has been reported authentically from the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) that he removed his shoes during the prayer when Jibril informed him that there was some filth on them, and he did not repeat the first part of the prayer, instead, he continued to pray. And Allah is the Granter of success.

Ibn Baz

The Ruling on wearing Cologne

Q: There has been much argument regarding the wearing of cologne; is it necessary for the Muslim who is in a state of ritual purity to renew his ablution because of it, or to wash away what is on his body?

A: The perfume commonly known as cologne is not free from the additive called spirit, which is an intoxicant, .according to what we are informed by doctors. Therefore it should not be used and it should be avoided in favor of some purer perfume. As for making ablution because of it, it is not necessary... nor is it required to wash away the parts of the body affected by it, because there is no clear evidence that it is impure. And Allah is the Granter of success.

Putting Henna on the Head does not invalidate Purification

Q: A woman made ablution, then put henna over her head (she dyed her hair with henna), then she stood up for her prayers. Is her prayer correct, or not? And if it invalidates her ablution, should she wipe over the henna, or wash her hair, then make minor ablution for prayer?

A: Placing henna on the head does not invalidate the state of purity, if she has already performed it. If she performs ablution while there is henna or a similar preparation which  women use on their heads, then there is no objection to her wiping over it, during minor ablution (Wudhu'). But in the case of major ablution (Ghusl), she must pour water over it three times, and wiping is not sufficient, according to the authentic Hadith in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) in which she said: "O Messenger of Allah! I tie up my hair; do I need to let it down in order to make Ghusl due to being in a state of impurity?" He (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) said: “No, it is enough for you splash it three times, then pour water over yourself and you will be purified” (Muslim no. 330).

And if you let it down in the case of washing after menstruation, it is better, based upon the other Hadiths which have been narrated concerning this. And Allah is the Granter of success.

Ibn Baz

The Ruling on Al-Mathi

Q: Drops of colorless liquid, like water are emitted from the penis only after sexual arousal. Must I perform Ghusl, or what must I do? And if it gets on the body or the clothes, does it become impure, or what should I do? Guide me, and may Allah guide you and may He reward you with goodness.

A: This liquid is the substance well known as Al-Mathi and it is a white, sticky fluid, which is emitted after sexual arousal, or thoughts of sexual intercourse etc. It should be washed, if it gets on the clothes, but Ghusl is not required except due to the emission of Al-Mani (Al-Mani: Sperm) at the time of ejaculation. Al-Mani is a well known yellowish fluid, and the difference between them is clear, both regarding color and ruling. And Allah knows best.