Entering masjid with urine bag ?

Question

Sir my father is 70 years old. Unfortunately after prostate operation he is facing urinary incontinence and now using urine bag. Otherwise he is physically fit and before operation used to go to Masjid regularly (5 Times). Even now he can walk to Masjid but some other people in Masjid are objecting that you cannot come to Masjid with urine bag its a Gunnah and your prayers will not be accepted. One of Imam Masjid in another Masjid told us that there is no objection if He used fully intact bag, no leakage, no smell and always hidden in a normal shopping bag and always with fully clean cloths. My Dad is fulfilling all these things. Please advise the correct scenario. Answer: ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The general rule is that it is impermissible to bring something impure or that which has a foul odour into the masjid, especially when there is fear of the masjid becoming soiled with that impurity. However, due to your father’s excuse, his case would be an exception to the general rule. Hence, as long as the impurity’s stench cannot be perceived, it is concealed, does not disgust and offend the people attending the masjid, and one feels certain the impurity will not soil the masjid, then it would be permissible for your father to enter the masjid with the urine bag. The questioner is advised to explain, with softness and wisdom, the above mentioned ruling to those who raise objections. Furthermore, this ruling is corroborated by the following authentic hadith: Aisha ﻋﻨﻬﺎ اﷲ رﺿﻲ narrates, “One of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ performed itikaf with him whilst she was experiencing istihadha (irregular bleeding), and she would see the colours red and yellow. Sometimes we would place a basin underneath her (so her clothes and the masjid would not become dirty) whilst she would pray.” (Sahihul Bukhari: Hadith 2307) We can deduce from this hadith that despite her experiencing istihadha and the presence of impurity, the Prophet ﷺ did not command her to leave the masjid; because the impurity was concealed, it did not have a bad smell, did not offend anyone, and there was no fear of the masjid becoming dirty. Therefore, this same ruling will also apply (i.e. permission to enter the masjid with the aforementioned conditions) to your father.

(Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 428 [Maktaba Imdadia]; Aadaabul Masjid: p. 27 [Darul Isha’at]; Fatawa Mahmudia: v. 22, p. 329 [Darul Isha’at]; Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariya: v. 2, p. 633-634 [Zam Zam])

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham