Fatwa by: Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him)
Question:
My husband always kisses me before leaving the house, even when he goes to the mosque for prayer. Sometimes I feel that he does this out of desire. What is the Islamic ruling regarding his wudu in such a case?
Answer:
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'mineen Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her):
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed one of his wives and then went to pray without performing wudu."
[Narrated by Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
This hadith indicates the permissibility of touching or kissing one's wife. Scholars have differed on this matter. Some believe that kissing, regardless of whether it is done with desire or without, nullifies wudu. Others are of the view that it only breaks wudu if done with desire, and in the absence of desire, it does not. Another group of scholars holds the opinion that it does not nullify wudu in any case, and this is the stronger opinion.
The meaning is that if a man kisses his wife, touches her hand, or hugs her, and there is neither discharge nor any breaking of wudu, then merely by these acts, neither of them will lose their wudu. The principle is that wudu remains intact unless there is clear evidence that it has been nullified. However, there is no such evidence in the Quran or Sunnah indicating that touching a woman nullifies wudu. Therefore, kissing, hugging, or touching a woman, even if it is done without any barrier and with desire, does not break wudu in any case.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
My husband always kisses me before leaving the house, even when he goes to the mosque for prayer. Sometimes I feel that he does this out of desire. What is the Islamic ruling regarding his wudu in such a case?
Answer:
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'mineen Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her):
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed one of his wives and then went to pray without performing wudu."
[Narrated by Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
This hadith indicates the permissibility of touching or kissing one's wife. Scholars have differed on this matter. Some believe that kissing, regardless of whether it is done with desire or without, nullifies wudu. Others are of the view that it only breaks wudu if done with desire, and in the absence of desire, it does not. Another group of scholars holds the opinion that it does not nullify wudu in any case, and this is the stronger opinion.
The meaning is that if a man kisses his wife, touches her hand, or hugs her, and there is neither discharge nor any breaking of wudu, then merely by these acts, neither of them will lose their wudu. The principle is that wudu remains intact unless there is clear evidence that it has been nullified. However, there is no such evidence in the Quran or Sunnah indicating that touching a woman nullifies wudu. Therefore, kissing, hugging, or touching a woman, even if it is done without any barrier and with desire, does not break wudu in any case.
And Allah knows best.