Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
Ruling in Brief
When wind passes from the back passage, wudu is nullified but istinja (washing the private parts) is not obligatory.
Evidence from the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لَا يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا»
“He should not leave (the prayer) until he hears a sound or detects a smell.”
(Bukhari 137; Muslim 361)
This shows:
- Passing wind breaks wudu.
- However, no impurity exits that requires washing the private parts.
- Therefore, only performing wudu is required, not istinja.
Complete Wudu Steps in This Case
When wind is passed, the person should perform a full wudu:
- Rinse the mouth (madmadah).
- Clean the nose (istinshaq).
- Wash the face.
- Wash the arms including elbows.
- Wipe the head and ears.
- Wash the feet including ankles.
No washing of the private parts is needed unless another impurity has exited.
Correction of a Common Misunderstanding
- Some people relieve themselves (urination or defecation), wash themselves (istinja), and later — before prayer — perform wudu.
- They think they must wash their private parts again during wudu.
- This is incorrect:
- Once the private parts have been washed and are pure, there is no need to wash them again unless impurity exits again.
Purpose of istinja:
- Remove physical impurity from the private parts.
- Once purity is achieved, repeating istinja without reason is unnecessary.
✅ Final Ruling:
- Passing wind requires wudu only, not istinja.
- Istinja is only repeated when actual impurity exits the body.
ھٰذا ما عندی والله أعلم بالصواب
