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Is the hadith “There is no prayer for one who is suppressing the urge to relieve himself” sahih?

Question

How sound is the hadith “There is no prayer for one who is suppressing the urge to relieve himself”?

Answer

 

Praise be to Allah.

We do not know of any hadith from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) with this wording, but this meaning has been mentioned in sahih hadiths:

Muslim (560) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There is no prayer when food is ready, or when one is resisting the urge to relieve oneself.”

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

These hadiths indicate that it is disliked (makruh) to pray when food that you want to eat is ready, because that will distract you from the prayer and you will not be able to focus properly. It is also disliked to pray when resisting the urge to relieve oneself, meaning to urinate or defecate.

Abu Dawud (91) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allah and the Last Day to pray when he is suppressing the urge to relieve himself, until he relieves himself.” Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.

Ibn Majah (617) and Ahmad (21648) narrated from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade a man to pray when he is suppressing the urge to relieve himself. Classed as saheeh by al-Albani.

As-Sindi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The phrase “suppressing the urge to relieve himself” refers to suppressing the urge to urinate or defecate.

Ibn al-Athir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in an-Nihayah (1/1017):

It refers to the one who is withholding his urine, like the one who is suppressing the urge to defecate.

And Allah knows best.

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