Things That Break Wudu
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“If your wudu breaks during prayer, then place your hand over your nose and go back.”
➊ Wudu After Touching the Private Part
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Whoever touches his private part should perform wudu.”
This ruling applies when the private part is touched directly, without any cloth in between.
➋ Wudu After Madhi Is Discharged
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“If madhi is discharged, wash your private part and perform wudu (at the time of prayer).”
➌ Wudu After Sleep
Hadith of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The eyes are the fastening of the buttocks. So whoever sleeps should perform wudu again.”
Hadith of Safwan ibn Assal (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to instruct us that, while traveling, we should not remove our khuffs for three days and three nights due to urination, defecation, or sleep, but should wipe over them.
This hadith indicates that sleep breaks wudu.
Sleeping while leaning or lying down breaks wudu, whereas dozing while sitting does not break wudu.
Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Companions of the Messenger of Allah would doze while sitting, waiting for the Isha prayer, and would perform the prayer without renewing their wudu.
➍ Wudu After Passing Wind
Hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you are praying and wind is passed, go and perform wudu.”
In Case of Doubt:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“He should not end his prayer until he hears a sound (of wind) or smells something.”
This hadith shows that wudu is not broken merely by doubt or suspicion; certainty is required.
In Case of Continuous Ailment:
Fadilat al-Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman al-Jibrin (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
A person who is constantly in a state of passing wind, his wudu and prayer will not be broken; his ruling is like that of a person with an excuse. However, he must perform fresh wudu for each prayer after its time has begun.
➎ Vomiting, Nosebleeds and Wudu
Narration that wudu breaks due to vomiting or nosebleeds:
Imam Ahmad and other muhaddithun have declared it da’if. The chains of these narrations have severe weakness, therefore, acting on the original principle of “baraa’a asliyya” (original freedom from obligation), it can be said that the discharge of blood does not invalidate wudu.
The Incident of Ghazwa Dhat al-Riqa:
During the night, an Ansari Companion was struck by arrows from the enemy; he was wounded and blood kept flowing, yet he remained engaged in prayer.
The Incident of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
When he was wounded, he continued to pray despite the bleeding.
This makes clear that the flow of blood does not break wudu.
➏ Kissing One’s Wife
Narration from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet ﷺ kissed some of his wives and then went to prayer without performing wudu.
Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
Touching a woman, whether without any barrier or with desire, kissing her, or drawing close to her does not break wudu.
Clarification: However, if madhi is discharged in this same state, it is obligatory to wash the penis, the testicles, and any soiled part of the cloth, and to perform wudu for prayer.
