Obligations of Wudu
① Making Intention (Niyyah)
Making intention before wudu is obligatory. If someone does not make the intention for wudu, then their wudu is not valid.
For example, a person travels and becomes dusty. When he reaches his place, he washes his hands, nose, face, and both feet with water just to clean the dust.
Is this wudu only for cleaning the dirt? No, because he did not make the intention for wudu.
Evidence
قال رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : «إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى،
Translation
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that all actions depend upon intention, and every person will get the reward according to their intention.
② Saying Bismillah before Wudu is obligatory
Imam Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) has presented fifty evidences for this.
Whoever does not say Bismillah before wudu, his wudu is not valid.
Evidence:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَا وُضُوءَ لَهُ وَلَا وُضُوءَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ اسْمَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ
Translation: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) says that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever does not have wudu, his prayer is not valid, and whoever does not mention the name of Allah (does not say ‘Bismillah’) at the beginning of wudu, his wudu is not valid.”
③ It is also obligatory to start wudu from the right side
Evidence
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأْتُمْ فَابْدَءُوا بِأَيَامِنِكُمْ
Translation: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When you perform wudu, start from your right side.”
④ Perform wudu within such time that when washing the last limb, the first limbs of wudu do not dry.
Evidence
عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا تَوَضَّأَ فَتَرَكَ مَوْضِعَ الظُّفْرِ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُعِيدَ الْوُضُوءَ وَالصَّلَاةَ قَالَ فَرَجَعَ
Translation
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA), he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man who had performed wudu but left a spot the size of a fingernail dry on his foot. He (ﷺ) ordered him to perform wudu again and to pray again. So that person went back (to the mosque) to perform wudu again.
⑤ Washing all the parts of Wudu once each is obligatory
Evidence
Ata bin Yasar narrates from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) washed each part once during Wudu.
Washing each part once is obligatory,
and washing two or three times is Sunnah.
⑥ Gargling is obligatory
Evidence
قال رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلی اللہ علیہ إِذَا تَوَضَّأْتَ فَمَضْمِضْ
Translation
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When you perform Wudu, then gargle.”
⑦ Putting water into the nose and blowing it out is obligatory
Evidence
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَجْعَلْ فِي أَنْفِهِ مَاءً ثُمَّ لِيَسْتَنْثِرْ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When any one of you performs Wudu, he should put water into his nose and then blow it out well.”
However, when a person is fasting, he should not exaggerate in putting water into the nose at that time.
Evidence
عَاصِمِ بْنِ لَقِيطِ بْنِ صَبْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ الْوُضُوءِ قَالَ أَسْبِغْ الْوُضُوءَ وَبَالِغْ فِي الِاسْتِنْشَاقِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ صَائِمًا
Narrated by Sayyiduna Laqit bin Sabrah ؓ, he said: I asked, O Messenger of Allah! Please instruct me about ablution. He ﷺ said: “Perform ablution thoroughly, and be generous in putting water into the nose, except when you are fasting.”
⑧ Washing the face is obligatory
Evidence
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ
O you who have believed! When you rise for prayer, wash your faces.
⑨ Combing the beard is obligatory
Evidence
أَنَسٍ يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ أَخَذَ كَفًّا مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَدْخَلَهُ تَحْتَ حَنَكِهِ فَخَلَّلَ بِهِ لِحْيَتَهُ وَقَالَ هَكَذَا أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
Narrated by Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution, he would take a handful of water and put it under his chin and comb through his beard with it, and he said, “My Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, has commanded me to do so.”
⑩ Washing both hands including the elbows is obligatory
Evidence
Quran Majeed
وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ
Wash your hands including the elbows.
⑪ Wiping the head is obligatory
Evidence
Quran Majeed
وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ
Wipe your heads.
The method of wiping the head as taught by the Prophet ﷺ
is as follows:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ بِيَدَيْهِ فَأَقْبَلَ بِهِمَا وَأَدْبَرَ بَدَأَ بِمُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ بِهِمَا إِلَى قَفَاهُ ثُمَّ رَدَّهُمَا حَتَّى رَجَعَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي بَدَأَ مِنْهُ
Translation
He wiped his head in such a way that he moved both hands back and forth, starting the wiping from the front part of the head, then moved his hands towards the back of his head, then brought them back until he reached the place where he had started wiping.
⑫ Wiping the ears is obligatory
Evidence
عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَسَحَ أُذُنَيْهِ دَاخِلَهُمَا بِالسَّبَّابَتَيْنِ وَخَالَفَ إِبْهَامَيْهِ إِلَى ظَاهِرِ أُذُنَيْهِ فَمَسَحَ ظَاهِرَهُمَا وَبَاطِنَهُمَا
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wiped his ears during ablution. He wiped the inner part of the ears with the index fingers and brought the thumbs to the outside of the ears, then wiped both the outside and inside of the ears.
⑬ Washing the feet including the ankles is obligatory
Evidence
Quran
وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ
Wash your feet including the ankles.
⑭ Cleaning between the fingers of the hands and feet is obligatory
Evidence
عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأْتَ فَخَلِّلْ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِ يَدَيْكَ وَرِجْلَيْكَ
Translation
Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When you perform ablution, clean between the fingers of your hands and feet.’ Imam Tirmidhi says
Sunnahs of Ablution
① Using a miswak is Sunnah
Evidence
أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ
Translation:
Narrated Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “If it were not that I would impose hardship on my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use the miswak at every prayer.”
② Washing the parts of ablution twice or thrice is Sunnah
Evidence
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ مَرَّتَيْنِ مَرَّتَيْنِ
Translation
Narrated Abu Huraira that the Prophet ﷺ washed the parts of ablution three times each. 1؎
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ ثَلَاثًا ثَلَاثًا
Translation:
Narrated Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet ﷺ washed the parts of ablution three times each. 1؎
③ Washing both palms is Sunnah
Because the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sometimes washed them at the beginning of ablution and sometimes did not wash them separately; that is, he washed the palms while washing the arms.
Evidence
قَالَ لَنَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ كَيْفَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَدَعَا بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ فَاغْتَرَفَ غَرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى فَتَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ
Translation
Hazrat Ata bin Yasar narrated that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said: Do you want me to show you how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform ablution? So he brought a vessel containing water. Then he washed with his right hand, rinsed his mouth, and took water into his nose.
عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ
Translation
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever performs ablution and rinses his mouth and snuffs water into his nose, the sins come out from his mouth and nose.”
④ To rinse the mouth once and also to snuff water into the nose.
Evidence
ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ مِنْ غُرْفَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rinsed his mouth and also poured water into his nose with one handful.
⑤ Wiping over socks and stockings is Sunnah
Evidence
الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى الْجَوْرَبَيْنِ
[Translation]
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shu’bah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution once and wiped over his socks.
أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى الْجَوْرَبَيْنِ
[Translation]
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution and wiped over his socks.
⑥ Sprinkling water on the trousers after ablution is Sunnah
Evidence
الْحَكَمِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ الثَّقَفِيِّ أَنَّهُ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ كَفًّا مِنْ مَاءٍ فَنَضَحَ بِهِ فَرْجَهُ
[Translation]
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hukm bin Sufyan Thaqafi (RA) that he saw the Messenger (ﷺ) perform ablution, then took a handful of water and sprinkled it on his thigh.
⑦ Reciting supplication after ablution is Sunnah
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Evidence
عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فُتِّحَتْ لَهُ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ
It is narrated from Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever performs ablution properly and then recites: [أشھد أن لا الہ الا اللہ……… عبدہ و رسولہ] ’ ‘I bear witness that there is no true deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His servant and Messenger,’ for him, the eight gates of Paradise are opened wide, and he may enter through whichever gate he wishes.”
Note
Some people have introduced innovations in ablution:
1. Passing the hand over the neck while wiping
2. Raising the finger that bears testimony towards the sky after ablution and making a supplication
3. Saying Bismillah and Alhamdulillah before ablution
4. Making supplication in the middle of ablution
Nawaqid al-Wudu (Nullifiers of Ablution)
1. If anything exits from the two private parts, ablution is broken, meaning urine, feces, and wind, etc.
Evidence
قَالَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عَسَّالٍ كُنَّا إِذَا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ لَا نَنْزِعَهُ ثَلَاثًا إِلَّا مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ وَلَكِنْ مِنْ غَائِطٍ وَبَوْلٍ وَنَوْمٍ
Hazrat Safwan bin Assal (RA) narrates that when we used to travel with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), he would instruct us not to remove our socks for three days due to urine, stool, and sleep, but they had to be removed due to janabah (major impurity).
From this hadith, it is understood that ablution is broken due to urine and stool, and it must be renewed.
② Ablution is broken by deep sleep
Evidence
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الْعَيْنُ وِكَاءُ السَّهِ فَمَنْ نَامَ فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ
It is narrated from Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Talib (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “The eyes are the locks of the private parts, so whoever sleeps should perform ablution.”
Note
Ablution is not broken by dozing.
Evidence
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا نَعَسَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَنْصَرِفْ لَعَلَّهُ يَدْعُو عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَهُوَ لَا يَدْرِي
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “When a person starts to doze off during prayer, he should leave the prayer and turn away. It may be that he unknowingly curses himself.”
From this narration, it is understood that dozing off does not break wudu because the Prophet ﷺ explained that the reason for leaving the prayer is that the worshipper might, in a state of heedlessness, utter a bad supplication against himself; it does not mean that his wudu has been broken.
③ Eating camel meat breaks wudu
If one had wudu before, after eating camel meat, perform a new wudu for prayer.
Evidence:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَأَتَوَضَّأُ مِنْ لُحُومِ الْغَنَمِ؟ قَالَ: «إِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَوَضَّأْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَلَا تَوَضَّأْ» قَالَ أَتَوَضَّأُ مِنْ لُحُومِ الْإِبِلِ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ فَتَوَضَّأْ مِنْ لُحُومِ الْإِبِلِ»
It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Should I perform wudu because of goat meat?” He said: “If you wish, perform wudu, and if you wish, do not.” He asked: “Should I perform wudu because of camel meat?” He said: “Yes, perform wudu because of camel meat.”
④ Difference between madhy and mani
Passing of pre-seminal fluid (madhy) breaks wudu. There is a difference between madhy and mani. If madhy is discharged, perform a new wudu for prayer.
Madhy refers to that lubricating fluid which is discharged from the private organ due to sexual desire during intimacy with the wife.
Passing of mani (semen) makes ghusl obligatory, whether it happens during sleep or intercourse with the wife.
Evidence:
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ رَجُلًا مَذَّاءً فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْمَذْيَ فَاغْسِلْ ذَكَرَكَ وَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلَاةِ وَإِذَا فَضَخْتَ الْمَاءَ فَاغْتَسِلْ
Translation
It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (RA) that I used to pass madhy very frequently, so the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to me: “When you see madhy, wash your private part and perform wudu for prayer, but when you discharge mani forcefully, perform ghusl.”
⑤ There are two hadiths regarding touching the private parts
Touching the private parts without clothes breaks wudu.
Number 1.
It is mentioned that whoever touches the private parts should perform a new ablution for prayer.
Observe the Hadith
قال بُسْرَةُ بِنْتُ صَفْوَانَ، أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: >مَنْ مَسَّ ذَكَرَهُ فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ
Translation
It is narrated from Sayyida Basra bint Safwan ؓ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a person touches his private parts, he should perform ablution.”
Number 2.
It is mentioned that a question was asked to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regarding whether ablution is broken if one touches the private parts. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that it is a part of the body.
Refer to the Hadith
عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ طَلْقِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ خَرَجْنَا وَفْدًا حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَبَايَعْنَاهُ وَصَلَّيْنَا مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ كَأَنَّهُ بَدَوِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا تَرَى فِي رَجُلٍ مَسَّ ذَكَرَهُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ وَهَلْ هُوَ إِلَّا مُضْغَةٌ مِنْكَ أَوْ بَضْعَةٌ مِنْكَ
Translation
Narrated Harat Talq bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): He said, “We set out as a delegation from our region until we reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So we gave him the pledge of allegiance and prayed with him. After the prayer was finished, a Bedouin man came and said: O Messenger of Allah! What is the ruling regarding a man who touches his private organ during prayer? He said: ‘It is also just a part of your body.'”
Both hadiths can be reconciled
That is, if the hand touches the private part without any clothing, the wudu (ablution) is broken; if the hand touches over the clothing, the wudu is not broken. This reconciliation was not given by any Imam or Muhaddith; it was given by a Companion of the Prophet.
Consider the hadith
قَالَ ابو ھریرہ رضی اللہ عنہ : إِذَا أَفْضَى أَحَدُكُمْ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى فَرْجِهِ، وَلَيْسَ بَيْنَهُمَا سِتْرٌ وَلَا حِجَابٌ، فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ”
Translation:
“When any one of you reaches his private part directly with his hand and there is nothing between the hand and the private part, then he should perform wudu.”
Here the words “and there is no barrier between them” are explicitly mentioned, meaning if there is no cloth or barrier in between, the wudu is broken.
Some doubts and their clarification
① Does wudu break if blood or pus comes out from the body?
Some people claim that wudu breaks due to blood coming out.
Wudu does not break due to blood or pus coming out from the body.
Evidence:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي صَدَقَةُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَقِيلِ بْنِ جَابِرٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعْنِي فِي غَزْوَةِ ذَاتِ الرِّقَاعِ، فَأَصَابَ رَجُلٌ امْرَأَةَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لَا أَنْتَهِيَ حَتَّى أُهَرِيقَ دَمًا فِي أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَخَرَجَ يَتْبَعُ أَثَرَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَنَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْزِلًا، فَقَالَ: مَنْ رَجُلٌ يَكْلَؤُنَا ؟ فَانْتَدَبَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ الْأَنْصَارِ، فَقَالَ: كُونَا بِفَمِ الشِّعْبِ، قَالَ: فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ الرَّجُلَانِ إِلَى فَمِ الشِّعْبِ، اضْطَجَعَ الْمُهَاجِرِيُّ وَقَامَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ يُصَلِّ، وَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى شَخْصَهُ عَرَفَ أَنَّهُ رَبِيئَةٌ لِلْقَوْمِ، فَرَمَاهُ بِسَهْمٍ فَوَضَعَهُ فِيهِ فَنَزَعَهُ حَتَّى رَمَاهُ بِثَلَاثَةِ أَسْهُمٍ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَسَجَدَ، ثُمَّ انْتَبَهَ صَاحِبُهُ، فَلَمَّا عَرِفَ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ نَذِرُوا بِهِ هَرَبَ، وَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُهَاجِرِيُّ مَا بِالْأَنْصَارِيِّ مِنَ الدَّمِ، قَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، أَلَا أَنْبَهْتَنِي أَوَّلَ مَا رَمَى ؟ قَالَ: كُنْتَ فِي سُورَةٍ أَقْرَؤُهَا فَلَمْ أُحِبَّ أَنْ أَقْطَعَهَا.
Translation:
Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه says that we went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Battle of Dhat al-Riqa. A Muslim killed a polytheist’s woman, and that polytheist swore that he would not stop until he shed the blood of one of Muhammad ﷺ’s companions. So he set out in search of this and followed the Prophet ﷺ, tracking his footsteps. The Prophet ﷺ stopped at a place and said: Who will protect us? Then a Muhajir and an Ansari volunteered for this mission. The Prophet ﷺ told them: You both stay at the edge of the valley. When they went to the edge of the valley and reached there, the Muhajir (companion) lay down, and the Ansari stood and began to pray. The polytheist came, and when he saw the body of that Ansari from a distance, he recognized that this was the protector and guardian of the group. That disbeliever shot an arrow at you, which hit you, so you pulled it out. You were hit by three arrows. Then you bowed and prostrated, then woke your Muhajir companion. When he realized that these people had become alert and vigilant, he fled. When the Muhajir saw the Ansari’s blood, he said: SubhanAllah! Why did you not wake me earlier when you were hit by the arrow? The Ansari said: I was reciting a Surah (chapter) of the Qur’an in prayer; I did not like to stop it. ١ ؎
Explanation:
From this hadith, it is understood that if blood flows from a wound, it does not break wudu nor does it invalidate the prayer. Those who claim that wudu breaks due to flowing blood rely on narrations related to menstruation and istihadah blood, and on the issue of nosebleeds, in which nosebleeds have also been considered to break wudu. However, the status of menstruation or istihadah blood is entirely different from blood flowing from a general wound because their rulings are different.
Moreover, that blood comes from the [Sabeelin] “private parts,” which is unanimously agreed to break wudu, whereas blood flowing from wounds does not have this status. Therefore, the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were wounded in battles and continued to pray in that condition, but the Prophet ﷺ did not forbid the wounded Companions from praying, which is evidence that blood flowing from ordinary wounds does not break wudu.
When Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه was wounded, he continued to pray in that condition even though blood was flowing from his body. If blood broke wudu, Umar رضي الله عنه would have broken his prayer, but he did not. The ruling on pus is the same as that on blood.
Evidence
Chapter: Does pus break wudu or not?
حَدَّثَنَا وَکِیعٌ ، عَنْ شُعْبَۃَ ، عَنْ مُغِیرَۃَ ، عَنْ إبْرَاہِیمَ ۔ وَعَنْ شُعْبَۃَ ، عَنِ الْحَکَمِ ، وَحَمَّادٍ قَالُوا : مَا خَرَجَ مِنَ الْبَثْرَۃِ مِنْ شَیْئٍ فَہُوَ بِمَنْزِلَۃِ الدَّمِ۔
Translation:
(1260) Hazrat Hikam and Hazrat Hamad said that whatever comes out of a boil is considered blood.
And those who consider blood as nullifiers of wudu have no evidence.
② Does eating something cooked by fire break wudu?
In a hadith, it is mentioned that the order to perform a new wudu after eating meat cooked by fire has been abrogated.
The last action of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was that after eating something cooked by fire, he did not perform a new wudu for prayer; he prayed with the wudu he already had.
Evidence
عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ شَهِدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَكَلَ خُبْزًا وَلَحْمًا ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ
Translation:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that he saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) eat bread and meat, then stand up for prayer without performing wudu.
③ Does wearing trousers below the ankles break wudu?
In a hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saw a person whose trousers were hanging below his ankles while praying, so he ordered him to perform ablution and repeat the prayer.
Hanging trousers below the ankles is a major sin, but it does not invalidate ablution. The hadith in which this is mentioned is weak.
According to Sheikh Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) and most scholars, this hadith is weak.
واللہ اعلم
④ If drops of urine fall due to illness, does that invalidate ablution?
If drops of urine fall due to illness, ablution is not invalidated. If there is no illness and occasionally drops of urine fall, then wash those clothes and perform a new ablution for prayer.
