Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
If someone laughs during prayer, the prayer itself will be invalidated, but the wudu (ablution) will not be broken. This is based on several pieces of evidence:
Prominent scholars like Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Shafi'i, and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh also held the view that laughter during prayer invalidates the prayer but not the wudu.
We will briefly review their arguments based on the principles of the Hadith scholars:
Comment:
The chain of this narration is weak because Hisham bin Hassan, who is a mudallis (one who commits tadlis), narrates it in an 'an'ana (ambiguous) form.
Comment: This chain is weak due to tadlis and interruption. Imam Ibn Al-Mundhir also considered it mursal (a type of weak narration).
Comment:
This is a fabricated (mawdu') hadith. It is mursal and includes a liar in the chain.
Comment:
This narration is extremely weak due to the presence of tadlis and interruption in the chain.
Comment:
This narration is weak due to interruption in the chain and the presence of a mudallis narrator.
Comment:
This is a fabricated narration due to the presence of a liar in the chain.
Comment:
This chain is weak due to the presence of a weak narrator.
Comment:
This is the statement of a Tabi'i (not a hadith) and does not serve as a strong argument.
Thus, the claim that laughter during prayer breaks wudu is baseless. Wudu is only broken by things explicitly mentioned in the Sunnah or established by consensus, such as using the restroom, passing wind, or sleeping.
Note:
Some scholars like Imam Shafi'i and Ahmad bin Hanbal have refuted the opposing views through debates and scholarly discussions. One such debate is recorded in the works of Ibn Adi, illustrating the inconsistencies in the opposing arguments.
[Al-Kamil by Ibn Adi: 2/319, with a sound chain]
Therefore, laughter or loud laughter during prayer invalidates the prayer but does not break wudu. This conclusion is based on the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the consensus of the scholars.
If someone laughs during prayer, the prayer itself will be invalidated, but the wudu (ablution) will not be broken. This is based on several pieces of evidence:
Evidence No. 1
◈ Hafiz Ibn Al-Mundhir (died 318 AH) writes:"A consensus among the scholars is that laughing outside of prayer does not break wudu and does not necessitate ablution. There is also a consensus that laughing during prayer invalidates the prayer."[Al-Awsat by Ibn Al-Mundhir: 1/226]Evidence No. 2
◈ Ata bin Abi Rabah reports:"Jabir (a companion of the Prophet) did not consider wudu necessary for someone who laughs during prayer."[Sunan Ad-Daraqutni: 1/173, Hadith: 650, with a sound chain]Evidence No. 3
◈ "Hisham says that his brother laughed during prayer. Urwah told him to repeat the prayer but did not ask him to repeat the wudu."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/387, with a sound chain]Evidence No. 4
◈ Ata bin Abi Rabah said regarding a person who laughs during prayer:"If he smiles, he does not break the prayer, but if he laughs out loud, he must repeat the prayer. However, there is no need for wudu."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/387, with a sound chain]Evidence No. 5
◈ Abdur Rahman bin Qasim says:"I laughed while praying with my father, and he ordered me to repeat the prayer."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/387, with a sound chain]Evidence No. 6
◈ Muhammad bin Sirin, a Tabi'i (follower of the companions), says:"When we were children and laughed during prayer, the scholars ordered us to repeat the prayer."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/388, with a sound chain]Prominent scholars like Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Shafi'i, and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh also held the view that laughter during prayer invalidates the prayer but not the wudu.
Refutation of Opposing Views
Some followers of Taqleed (blind following) claim that laughter during prayer breaks wudu, and they order people to repeat the wudu. However, they lack authentic evidence for this.We will briefly review their arguments based on the principles of the Hadith scholars:
Argument No. 1
Abu Musa Al-Ashari reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) was leading people in prayer when a man came and fell into a pit in the mosque. Many people laughed. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever laughed should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir by Tabarani: 1/246, Nasb Al-Raya: 1/47]Comment:
The chain of this narration is weak because Hisham bin Hassan, who is a mudallis (one who commits tadlis), narrates it in an 'an'ana (ambiguous) form.
Argument No. 2
Abu Al-Aliyah Al-Riyahi said that a blind man fell into a well while the Prophet (ﷺ) was leading prayer. Some people laughed, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever laughed should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 2/376, Hadith: 3762-3760]Comment: This chain is weak due to tadlis and interruption. Imam Ibn Al-Mundhir also considered it mursal (a type of weak narration).
Argument No. 3
Hassan Al-Basri narrates from the Prophet (ﷺ) that a blind man came for prayer and fell into a pit. Some people laughed out loud. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever laughed out loud should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Kitab Al-Athar by Muhammad: 33]Comment:
This is a fabricated (mawdu') hadith. It is mursal and includes a liar in the chain.
Argument No. 4
Mabad narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) was leading prayer when a blind man came for prayer and fell into a pit. Some people laughed out loud. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever laughed out loud should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Sunan Ad-Daraqutni: 1/166, Hadith: 612]Comment:
This narration is extremely weak due to the presence of tadlis and interruption in the chain.
Argument No. 5
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever laughed out loud in prayer should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Al-Kamil by Ibn Adi: 3/167]Comment:
This narration is weak due to interruption in the chain and the presence of a mudallis narrator.
Argument No. 6
Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "If someone laughs out loud in prayer, they should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Al-Kamil by Ibn Adi: 3/167]Comment:
This is a fabricated narration due to the presence of a liar in the chain.
Argument No. 7
Amer Sha'bi said: "This laughter is a trial; such a person should repeat the wudu and the prayer."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/388]Comment:
This chain is weak due to the presence of a weak narrator.
Argument No. 8
Ibrahim Nakha'i said: "When a person laughs during prayer, he should repeat both the wudu and the prayer."[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/288]Comment:
This is the statement of a Tabi'i (not a hadith) and does not serve as a strong argument.
Thus, the claim that laughter during prayer breaks wudu is baseless. Wudu is only broken by things explicitly mentioned in the Sunnah or established by consensus, such as using the restroom, passing wind, or sleeping.
Note:
Some scholars like Imam Shafi'i and Ahmad bin Hanbal have refuted the opposing views through debates and scholarly discussions. One such debate is recorded in the works of Ibn Adi, illustrating the inconsistencies in the opposing arguments.
[Al-Kamil by Ibn Adi: 2/319, with a sound chain]
Therefore, laughter or loud laughter during prayer invalidates the prayer but does not break wudu. This conclusion is based on the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the consensus of the scholars.