He suffers from incontinence; what should he do in Hajj?
Question

For a few years I have been suffering from intermittent urinary incontinence. A few drops of urine come out of me after I urinate. In the last few years I began to use paper towels inside my underwear, and I clean myself with water then I do wudoo’ before each prayer. I am intending to go for Hajj this year, in sha Allah. My question is: can I wear underwear whilst in ihram? Is it permissible for me to put each two prayers together during my journey for Hajj or whilst performing the rituals? Should I clean myself twice and do wudoo’ twice before putting two prayers together during Hajj? Sometimes I feel certain that nothing has come out of me; in this case do I have to clean myself once more before putting the next two prayers together? Do I have to use water to clean myself before each prayer, even if I have not urinated? Is it permissible to use paper towels only? Is it permissible for me to carry on taking medicine during ihram?
Praise be to Allah.Firstly:
if a person cannot maintain his wudoo’ and is continually breaking it, such as one who suffers from urinary incontinence or passes wind constantly, he should do wudoo’ at the time of each prayer, then he may offer whatever prayers he likes with that wudoo’, both obligatory and supererogatory, until the time for the next prayer begins, and it will not affect him even if something comes out of him after he has done wudoo’, even if that happens whilst he is praying.
But if the urine stops for a period of time that is sufficient for him to purify himself and pray, then he must delay the prayer until that time, and he should go to the washroom before the prayer or the adhaan, one quarter of an hour beforehand, for example, then wear something that will protect him against contamination after he has cleaned himself, then if the urine stops he should clean himself, do wudoo’ and pray.
See the answers to questions no. 39494 and 6656.
Secondly:
When you are in ihram, you can wrap a paper towel over your penis and put a bag over it that will prevent it from falling off and will prevent the urine from coming out. This is not regarded as being one of the things that are prohibited whilst in ihram.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the ruling on the muhrim (pilgrim in ihram) who suffers from incontinence putting something over his private part – such as a bag – so that the impurity will not spread? Is this one of the things that are prohibited whilst in ihram?
He replied that this is not one of the things that are prohibited whilst in ihram. See the answer to question no. 11013.
If that is too difficult for you, then wear a diaper or underwear, and there is no blame on you, but you have to pay the fidyah, which is a choice between sacrificing a sheep, feeding six poor persons, giving each one half a saa‘, or fasting for three days.
That is because of the hadith of Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him); when he needed to shave his head whilst in ihram, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said to him: “Shave your head, then fast for three days, or feed six poor persons, or offer a sacrifice.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4190) and Muslim (1201).
It is permissible for you to put prayers together because you have the excuse of travelling. Similarly, if it is too difficult for you to keep going to the washroom, especially when the crowds are so great, then whenever there is hardship and difficulty, it is prescribed to put prayers together.
If a person is putting two prayers together, then he only has to do wudoo’ once for both, regardless of whether he is suffering from incontinence or not. The same applies to cleansing and purifying oneself before doing wudoo’. It only has to be done once.
If you are certain that the place is pure and that nothing has come out of you, then you do not have to clean yourself or purify yourself.
It is permissible to use only paper towels to clean yourself, although using water is preferable.
Fourthly:
There is nothing wrong with using medicine whilst in ihram.
We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to grant you healing and well-being, and to bless us and you with an accepted Hajj and forgiven sins.
And Allah knows best.