Do you yourself not pass wind just as this man did? Of course you do—so why laugh? People laugh and marvel only at things that could never happen to them; when the very same thing happens to one, it is improper to laugh at it. For this reason the Prophet ﷺ rebuked those who laughed at the sound of flatulence: it comes from them as well, and for many it is an ordinary occurrence.

In a number of cultures people pay no attention if someone breaks wind while his companions sit beside him; they feel no embarrassment whatsoever, regarding it as no different from sneezing, coughing, and the like. In other cultures, however, the practice is censured.

Yet to laugh and thereby shame your companion is altogether inappropriate.

The episode also hints at a broader rule: a person should not criticise another for something he himself does. If you would not reproach yourself for it, how can you reproach your brothers?

On this occasion I wish to draw attention to an issue widespread among the laity. It is well-known that eating camel meat breaks one’s wudu (ablution). If a person in a state of wudu eats camel meat, he must renew his ablution before praying, whether he ate it raw or cooked, whether it was lean meat, liver, intestines, tripe, heart, lungs—whatever the camel bears. Consuming any of it invalidates wudu, for the Prophet ﷺ made no exception; he merely said, “Perform wudu after eating camel meat.” He was asked, “Should we perform wudu after eating camel meat?” and replied, “Yes.” When asked about mutton he said, “If you wish.” Thus, sheep meat does not break wudu.