What are the rulings and regulations for light سلس (urinary incontinence/continuous discharge) in the Maliki school of thought? Does this apply to madhy (pre-seminal fluid) that is discharged frequently due to arousal and cannot be controlled? And is it permissible for someone afflicted with intermittent urinary incontinence to follow the rulings of the Maliki school?
The summary of the Maliki school's view on the purity and prayer of a person afflicted by incontinence (Saḥib al-Sals) is that it is recommended for a woman experiencing irregular bleeding (mustaḥaḍah) to perform ablution (wuḍūʾ) for each prayer, but it is not obligatory. They analogized to her the person afflicted by incontinence if it is continuous all the time, or most of the time, or half the time. In this case, incontinence does not nullify ablution, but it is recommended to perform ablution for each prayer if the incontinence is continuous all the time.
However, if the incontinence is controlled by ceasing at a specific time, it is obligatory to delay or advance the prayer to be performed during the time of cessation. If treatment is possible, it becomes obligatory, and incontinence is excused during the days of treatment.
For the emission of pre-seminal fluid (madhī), there are three situations: 1. If it is due to celibacy and is emitted as a result of remembering or thinking (istiknāḥ), it nullifies ablution absolutely, and is excused only during the period of treatment. 2. If it is due to prolonged celibacy and is emitted without thought (nāzil mustarsil), if it can be stopped through treatment, marriage, or fasting, it nullifies ablution. Otherwise, it does not, unless it is continuous for less than the entire time, in which case it nullifies and is excused during the period of treatment. 3. If it is due to a reason other than celibacy (illness or natural deviation), it is not considered nullifying even if it can be stopped, unless it is continuous for less than the entire time, in which case it nullifies.
This detailed explanation also includes urine and prostatic fluid (wady).
As for removing impurities (izālat al-najis): What is difficult to guard against is excused, such as a continuous ritual impurity (ḥadath mustankah) that is highly frequent. What comes from it is excused, and it is permissible to enter the mosque with it as long as there is no fear of soiling it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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