What should a Muslim do if his ablution is invalidated during prayer and a few minutes before its time expires, such that if he were to leave to perform ablution anew, the prayer time would expire? Is it better to complete the prayer within its time or to leave for ablution, even if that means the time expires? And what is meant by "whoever catches one raka'ah of the prayer before its time expires has caught the prayer"?

If the questioner's feeling of bubbles exiting is merely a doubt, she should ignore it and continue her prayer. However, if it is a certainty, then what she did by interrupting the prayer is obligatory. Scholars have differed on whether tayammum (definition) suffices for prayer within the time if the remaining time is not enough for ablution and prayer, or if ablution is necessary even if the time expires. The majority of scholars hold that ablution is necessary even if the time expires. The intention behind "rak'ah" in the hadith (definition) is a complete rak'ah with its standing, bowing, and prostrating. Scholars have differed on what constitutes a person catching the prayer within its time; some said it is achieved by the opening takbir, while others stipulated catching a complete rak'ah within the time.