The Book of Menstruation - Sahih Muslim 362

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If any one of you has pain in his abdomen, but is doubtful whether or not anything has issued from him, he should not leave the mosque unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell.

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes an important principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding doubts about ritual purity during prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) teaches us that mere suspicion or doubt without clear evidence does not invalidate one's state of purity.

The wisdom behind this ruling is to prevent unnecessary hardship and to maintain the continuity of worship. If every doubt required abandoning prayer, it would lead to constant disruption in one's devotion.

The two clear signs mentioned - hearing a sound or perceiving a smell - serve as objective criteria to distinguish between mere abdominal discomfort and actual emission that breaks wudu. This demonstrates Islam's practical approach to spiritual matters.

Scholars have derived from this that the original state of purity remains until there is certainty of its nullification. This principle applies not only to mosque attendance but to all acts of worship requiring purity.

Juridical Principles Derived

Certainty is not overruled by doubt - one remains in their original state until clear evidence appears.

The Shari'ah has made acts of worship easy and accessible, removing unnecessary burdens from the worshipper.

Objective sensory evidence (sound or smell) takes precedence over subjective feelings or suspicions.

This ruling applies equally to men and women in matters where the same principles of purity apply.