How long does wudu last?
It depends on what happens, not on the clock. Wudu lasts until something breaks it, and there is no time limit. You can pray one prayer, or several, with a single wudu as long as it stays valid. Making fresh wudu for each prayer is recommended, but it is not required.
No expiry time
Wudu doesn't wear off after an hour or when the next prayer time comes in. If you made wudu for Fajr and haven't done anything to break it, you can still pray Dhuhr with it.
The Companions understood this. Anas said that the Prophet ﷺ used to make wudu for every prayer, and when he was asked what they themselves used to do, he said they would pray with the same wudu until they broke it (Sahih al-Bukhari 214).
The Prophet ﷺ showed it was allowed
On the day Mecca was conquered, the Prophet ﷺ prayed several prayers with one wudu and wiped over his socks. Umar said he had done something he had never done before. The Prophet ﷺ answered that he had done it on purpose (Sahih Muslim 277). Scholars explain that he did this to show his community that it is permitted and that wudu does not need to be renewed for every prayer.
This means you are not sinning if you pray several times on one wudu. See Do I have to make wudu for every prayer?
What ends your wudu
Wudu stays until something breaks it. All schools agree on the main ones:
- Passing urine or stool
- Passing wind
- Deep sleep, or losing consciousness
Schools differ on a few others, such as touching private parts or eating certain foods, but the principle stays the same: only a breaker ends it, not the clock. See What breaks wudu? and Does sleeping break wudu?
Is it better to renew it?
Renewing wudu before each prayer was the Prophet's ﷺ usual habit, so many people do it for extra reward and freshness. It is a good habit, but if you are still in wudu and short of time, such as at work, you don't need to do it again.
Wiping over socks has its own time limit: one day and one night for a resident and three days and nights for a traveler. That limit is only about the socks, not about wudu itself. See How long can a traveler wipe over socks?
- Wudu has no time limit; it stays until something breaks it.
- You can pray multiple prayers with one wudu (Sahih Muslim 277).
- Fresh wudu for each prayer is recommended but not required.
- Use the doubt rule: if you aren't sure it broke, it hasn't.
People also ask
Is alcohol-based hand sanitizer najis?
Many contemporary scholars say alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not najis, so you can use it and pray. The stricter view is to wash with water.
Read the full answer →How much of my head do I wipe in wudu?
Wiping the whole head once is best. The Hanafis require a quarter, the Shafi'is accept a part, and the Malikis and Hanbalis require all of it in wudu.
Read the full answer →How do I wash my feet for wudu in a small sink?
You can wash your feet for wudu in a small sink with a cup or bottle, or wipe over socks if you meet the conditions. Here are practical tips for work.
Read the full answer →How do I rinse my mouth in wudu while fasting?
Rinse your mouth in wudu while fasting gently: use a little water, don't gargle or sniff deeply, and spit it all out so your fast stays safe.
Read the full answer →How do I pray if I leak urine?
You still pray if you leak urine. Clean up, use protection, make wudu once the time enters and pray, even if drops come out during prayer.
Read the full answer →