Is it permissible for an imam afflicted with urinary incontinence ( سلس البول) to lead prayers, even though he does not change his clothes defiled by urine, and for the congregants to pray behind him?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The prayer of a person afflicted with urinary incontinence is valid if he makes an effort to guard against impurity by washing the area and binding it with a cloth. His imamate (leading the prayer) is valid, though there is a difference of opinion among scholars: some have permitted it only for those like him, some have permitted it absolutely, and some have deemed it disliked. It is preferable that he does not lead healthy people in prayer, to avoid the disagreement.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/65378
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 65378
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy