What is the ruling on the prayer of one who suffers from excessive flatulence only at the time of prayer, and does not know if he has سلس ( سلس الريح - continuous flatulence), with his ability to hold it back with difficulty, and how that affects his خشوع (devotional humility)? And can hemorrhoids be a reason for that?

1. If the flatulence occurs frequently only during prayer, or if it is merely a delusion, then the ruling of سلس ( سلس البول - سلس الريح - استحاضة ونحو ذلك مما يطرأ على المسلم ويزول عنه وقت يسير ثم يعود) does not apply. This is because a person afflicted with سلس is one whose ritual impurity is continuous, without a break long enough for purification and prayer.

2. A person afflicted with سلس performs ablution and prays, and whatever exits him does not harm him, nor does it invalidate his ablution. The most he needs to do is perform ablution for each prayer.

3. It is permissible to hold in flatulence, and the prayer is valid according to most scholars, though it is disliked, even if it leads to a loss of devotion.

4. If the exit of flatulence during prayer is confirmed, then the prayer becomes invalid due to the absence of purity.