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Is it permissible to exempt a mother, over seventy years of age, who suffers from hemiplegia and involuntary urination, from performing her prayers, despite the ability to change her diapers?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The patient suffering from involuntary urination (the incontinent person) must prevent the leakage of urine with a diaper or similar means. They should perform ablution (wudu) for each prayer and then pray. Whatever urine leaks during the prayer does not harm their prayer. If they are unable to perform ablution or are harmed by water, they should perform dry ablution (tayammum). They should pray standing if able; otherwise, sitting; and if unable to sit, then lying on their side, based on the hadith of Imran ibn Husayn. If she is conscious and aware, prayer is obligatory upon her, and no one can exempt her from it, because speaking about Allah without knowledge is one of the gravest sins, which Allah Almighty has equated with polytheism. Whoever tries to exempt her must be reminded of Allah, and the mother must be taught the obligation of prayer.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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