Question:
Does touching a dead body break one’s wuḍūʾ?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Answer:
Touching a dead body does not invalidate wuḍūʾ. There is consensus (ijmāʿ) of the scholars on this matter.
Scholarly Consensus:
❀ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله (319 AH):
قد أجمع أهل العلم على أن رجلا لو مس جيفة، أو دما، أو خنزيرا ميتا، أن الوضوء غير واجب عليه، فالمسلم الميت أحرى أن لا يكون على من مسه طهارة، والله أعلم
“The scholars have unanimously agreed that if a man touches a carcass, blood, or a dead pig, wuḍūʾ is not obligatory upon him. Therefore, it is even more appropriate that touching a deceased Muslim does not require wuḍūʾ. And Allah knows best.”
(al-Awsaṭ, 5/350)
Conclusion:Touching a dead body—whether of a Muslim or otherwise—does not invalidate wuḍūʾ according to the consensus of scholars.
