If my clothes are impure and I can’t change them, should I miss salah or not?

Is it permissible to pray in impure clothes out of necessity (such as the clothes on which urine has fallen), if one cannot change one’s clothes and will end up missing the salah?
Salah requires purity of one’s body, clothes and place of worship
The conditions of a valid salah are that one prays with clothes free from impurity, in a place that is free from impurity, in a state of purity (wudu).
Impure substances are urine, alcohol, faeces, animal faeces and blood. One should try to avoid having urine splash on ones’ clothes. However, if impure substances fall on one’s clothes, one should wash them off, particularly if they are urine. The Prophet (peace be on him) said:
“Keep away from urine since most torment of the grave is due to not avoiding urine.” (Daruqutni)
Small amount of impurity
If the amount of impurity (e.g. urine) on the clothes is a small amount (the size of a 50p coin) and cannot be removed in time for the salah, then some scholars from the Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanafi Schools regard it permissible to pray in them.
Necessity
In the scenario where one’s clothes have become impure greater than a 50p coin, but one does not have the ability to wash or remove them, regardless of the quantity, and one will miss the salah, then one should pray the salah, and repeat it later when one can return to a state of purity.
Praying in nappies
If one has a medical condition and has to wear nappies it is not permissible to pray with a wet or soiled nappy. One should pray when the nappy has been changed and is clean and if one is unable to perform wudu then one can do tayammum and pray.
Can you use wet wipes?
Yes if there is difficulty in being able to wash after relieving one self then one can use wet wipes as long as it removes the filth completely.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim – 15th August 2022
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