FACTORS THAT BREAK WUDU

This work details the specific actions and physical conditions that nullify wudu (ablution) according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. It addresses the discharge of bodily fluids, the effects of sleep and unconsciousness, the impact of physical injuries, and the rulings concerning specific occurrences during namaaz (prayer). The text emphasizes that the validity of wudu is contingent upon the maintenance of ritual purity, and it provides guidance on how to resolve doubts regarding whether one’s wudu remains intact.

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Key topics & takeaways

Bodily discharges

• Passage of impurities — wudu is nullified if stool, urine, wadi, mazee, manee, a worm, or a stone exits the front or rear private passages ▸page 5.
• Uncircumcised males — if any of the aforementioned substances exit the urethra but remain trapped within the foreskin, the wudu is still considered broken ▸page 5.
• Females — if such substances exit the private parts and remain within the outer layer of skin, the wudu is nullified ▸page 5.
• Wadi — defined as a thick, white, odorless urinary fluid that usually follows urination ▸page 5.
• Mazee — defined as thin, white pre-ejaculation fluid emitted due to desire ▸page 6.
• Manee — defined as semen or sperm ▸page 6.
• Vaginal discharge — clear discharge from the vagina that contains no blood does not break wudu, and clothing touched by it remains pure ▸page 6.
• Passing air — the release of flatulence from the rear nullifies wudu for both males and females ▸page 6.
• Torn membrane — if the tissue between a female's private parts is torn, it is advisable to repeat wudu if air is passed, even if she believes it exited from the front ▸page 6.

Medical and physical interventions

• Insertion into the urethra — inserting an object into the male private part and removing it does not break wudu ▸page 7.
• Enemas — if an enema is administered and the medication or any substance returns from the rear, wudu is broken ▸page 7.
• Vaginal insertion — if a cloth or object is inserted into the vagina and is removed soiled with blood or impurity, wudu is nullified ▸page 7.

Blood, pus, and wounds

• Flowing fluids — blood, pus, or yellowish fluid breaking from a wound nullifies wudu if it flows to an area that is fard (obligatory) to wash during wudu or ghusl ▸page 7.
• Non-flowing blood — blood that does not flow—such as from a needle prick, a knife edge, or traces found during miswak or nose cleaning—does not break wudu ▸page 8.
• Internal bursts — fluid from a boil or pimple that bursts inside the eye or ear without flowing out does not break wudu ▸page 8.
• Squeezing pimples — if one squeezes an abscess or pimple and blood flows, wudu is broken, regardless of whether it would have flowed naturally ▸page 9.
• Wound discharge — fluid or tears flowing from the eye, nose, navel, or breast due to infection nullifies wudu ▸page 9.
• Worms and flesh — a worm falling from a wound or a piece of flesh separating from a wound does not break wudu, provided no impure fluid is evident on it ▸page 9.
• Leech bites — a large leech drawing enough blood to have flowed naturally breaks wudu; bites from mosquitoes, flies, lice, or fleas do not ▸page 11.

Vomiting and oral issues

• Mouthful of vomit — involuntary vomiting of a mouthful of food, water, or bile breaks wudu ▸page 12.
• Phlegm — vomiting phlegm does not break wudu, regardless of the amount ▸page 12.
• Blood in saliva — blood from the mouth breaks wudu if it is predominant over saliva, indicated by the spit turning reddish ▸page 10.

Sleep and consciousness

• Sleep positions — sleep breaks wudu unless the buttocks are firmly planted on the ground or a seat; sleeping while lying on the back, stomach, side, or while squatting breaks wudu (▸page 13, ▸page 14).
• Sleep in prayer — intentionally falling asleep in a nullifying position during prayer breaks both wudu and the prayer; unintentional sleep breaks only wudu ▸page 14.
• Unconsciousness — insanity, fainting, or intoxication that causes unsteady walking breaks wudu ▸page 17.
• Prophetic sleep — the sleep of the Prophets does not affect their wudu, as their hearts remain awake ▸page 17.

Prayer-related rulings

• Laughing aloud — Qahqaha (laughing aloud) by a conscious adult during a prayer that includes ruku and sajdah breaks both wudu and the prayer ▸page 18.
• Smiling — smiling without emitting sound does not break wudu or prayer ▸page 18.
• Mubashirat-e-Faahisha — skin-to-skin contact between private parts (e.g., erect penis to female private part) breaks wudu ▸page 18.

Doubts and procedures

• Doubts during wudu — if one doubts whether a part was washed, one should wash it; if such doubt is habitual, it should be ignored ▸page 21.
• Forgotten wudu — if one cannot remember if they performed wudu, they must perform it; if one cannot remember if they passed urine or stool, they must perform wudu (▸page 21, ▸page 22).
• Procedure after breaking wudu — if wudu is broken, it must be performed entirely afresh; previously washed parts are no longer considered pure ▸page 20.