Praying Shemoneh Esrei When Needing The Restroom

Halacha Moment
Jul 7
2 min read

The Daily Halacha Moment - Praying Shemoneh Esrei When Needing The Restroom

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

May one pray Shemoneh Esrei if one needs to use the restroom?

Answer:

Before beginning Shemoneh Esrei, one should make sure that they do not need to use the bathroom. Even if a person feels they can hold it in for as long as 72 minutes, it is still prohibited to initially begin Shemoneh Esrei while needing to relieve oneself. [1]

However, if after the fact one did pray while needing the bathroom, and they were in a state where they could have held it in for 72 minutes, their tefillah is still valid. [2] While not ideal, it is sufficient to fulfill the obligation under such circumstances.

If a person needs to use the bathroom before Shemoneh Esrei and knows that by doing so they will miss davening with a minyan, they should still go to the bathroom even if they could have held it in for 72 minutes. [3]

On the other hand, if a person is faced with the opposite dilemma where going to the bathroom would cause them to miss the final time for davening Shemoneh Esrei altogether then if they are able to hold it in for 72 minutes, they should daven first, and relieve themselves afterward. [4]

Sources:

[1]. Gemara Berachot 23a; Shulchan Aruch 92:1.

[2]. Gemara Berachot 23a, Shulchan Aruch 92:1.

[3]. Mishnah Berurah 92:5, Yalkut Yosef 92:2.

[4]. The Mishna Berurah 92:5 writes that the Magen Avraham explains that if one can hold it in for 72 minutes and if one doesn't daven now he'll miss the time for that prayer altogether he can rely on the Rif that it is permitted initially to pray if he can hold it in for 72 minutes. And The Yalkut Yosef 92:1 agrees.