Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
If you have continuous annulment of wudu throughout the prayer time period, but can pray a simple prayer after several tries (because you are not sure when wind will be passed, it is sudden and random), do you still have to go for the congregational prayer?
Will it be bid`a to do this, i.e. to pray a simple prayer at home (before or after congregation) without passing wind (trying not to) but joining the congregation anyway so as not to miss it day after day? Please advise.
A person with chronic annulment of wudu (da’im al-hadath), for example because of constant release of wind, is not obliged to try praying several times without releasing wind. His prayer is perfectly valid, if he has made wudu with an intention suitable to his state, and prays his obligatory prayer once, even if he passes wind during the whole prayer. He is considered to have chronic annulment if he cannot find enough time to be free of breaking his wudu, or if he does find enough time, but is unable to pinpoint when it will occur. This is explained in the following link:
http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00003616.aspx
The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, “No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama of the (compulsory congregational) prayer and then I would go to the houses of those who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them.” Narrated Abu Huraira.
The group prayer is a communal obligation upon all male nontravellers for the five current prescribed prayers, such that the rite of the prayer be public. (Reliance, f12.1)
After having asked Shaykh Akram Abd al-Wahhab about this, he said that it is best for one with chronic annulment to purify, make ablution go to the mosque and wait for the group prayer, even if the wait is lengthy.
Praying one’s obligatory prayer twice is completely unnecessary and can lead to harmful whisperings from the devil. This is the beauty of the shari`ah, which has permitted him to pray in this state, without burdening him with trying several times “to get it right”. So purify correctly, pray correctly with the group, pray as many supererogatory prayers as you like, and be thankful for the ease you have been given.
And Allah knows best.
Shazia Ahmad