What is the ruling on combining two prayers with a single ablution for those afflicted with سلس (urinary incontinence/continuous discharge), and to what extent does this ruling apply to different types of سلس? What are the consequences for someone who previously combined prayers based on a mistaken understanding? What is your opinion on those who argue for the permissibility of a notional combination (الجمع الصوري) based on the Maliki madhhab, even if the سلس is present for less than half the time? And what is the correct intention for ablution for someone afflicted with سلس?

The answer to the first question: The Maliki school of thought exclusively considers the constant presence of an impurity for half the time as a continuous discharge ( سلس), while other schools do not consider it continuous unless it persists for all or most of the time, such that no time remains for purification and prayer. The person mentioned is not considered to have a continuous discharge unless the prostatic fluid (madhi) is constantly present. If it is constant and he knows it will stop at a certain time, he must delay ablution and prayer until that time. The performative combination (al-jam‘ al-suri) is permissible for him and for others.

The answer to the second question: Al-Shawkani did not restrict the ruling on continuous discharge to urinary incontinence; rather, he mentioned "and the like," indicating that the ruling includes all impurities that nullify ablution, by analogy with the woman experiencing irregular bleeding (mustahadah).

The answer to the third question: The prayer is not invalidated by the performative combination, even for a healthy person, because it does not lead to the prayer being performed outside its time. However, performing each prayer at the beginning of its time is better for one who has no excuse.

The answer to the fourth question: If the impurity occurs at the beginning of the time and then ceases, it is obligatory to delay ablution and prayer until the end of the time. There is no need for the performative combination here. Prayer must be performed within its time and with purity.

The answer to the fifth question: Ablution is an independent act of worship that removes impurity. It is not a condition to specify the intention for a particular prayer or a number of prayers, but rather with the intention of removing impurity, or performing the obligatory ablution, or making permissible what was forbidden by the impurity.