What is the ruling on feeling flatulence during wudu (ablution) and prayer, and is this considered a form of waswas (whispers from Shaytan) or سلس ريح (chronic flatulence)? What is the prescribed Islamic treatment in both cases?
Obsessive whisperings (waswas) have taken a great toll on you, and the only cure for them is to ignore them and pay them no mind. Be strong-willed in getting rid of these whispers, and no matter what the waswas presents to you in any act of worship, cast it away and turn away from it. Perform ablution (wudu') only once and do not pay attention to what Satan makes you imagine concerning the emission of wind. Proceed with your prayer without hesitation in the intention, or the opening takbir, or the recitation. What you have mentioned are whispers and imaginings from Satan to hinder you from worship, so deny him the opportunity. If you act upon our advice to limit your ablution to one time for all acts of worship, then, with Allah's permission, anxiety and sorrow will be removed from you. The answer to all your questions about this matter is to ignore obsessive whispers and pay them no mind, which is what the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded the person afflicted with waswas, saying: "Let him seek refuge in Allah and desist."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/118033