What breaks wudu?
Yes, there's a short list: using the toilet, passing wind, deep sleep and losing consciousness break wudu, according to all scholars. Wudu is the ritual washing before prayer. A few other things, like touching your private parts or bleeding, break it in some schools of law but not others. Simply doubting whether your wudu broke doesn't break it.
What all scholars agree on
- Anything leaving the front or back passage: urine, stool or wind.
- Deep sleep: sleep where you lose awareness, especially lying down.
- Losing consciousness: fainting, anesthesia or being drunk.
- Anything requiring ghusl: sexual intercourse, ejaculation, and the end of a period or post-birth bleeding. These need a full ritual bath, not just wudu.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs the ablution" (Sahih al-Bukhari 135). The Quran also mentions coming "from the place of relieving himself" among the reasons to purify before prayer:
Where the schools differ
- Touching your private parts directly: breaks wudu for the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, and the Maliki school with some conditions, based on "He who touches his penis should perform ablution" (Sunan Abi Dawud 181). The Hanafi school says it doesn't, based on another report calling it "only a part of his body" (Sunan Abi Dawud 182).
- Skin contact with the opposite sex: breaks it for Shafi'is; for Malikis and Hanbalis only with desire; not at all for Hanafis.
- Flowing blood or a mouthful of vomit: breaks it for Hanafis; most others say no, though Hanbalis count a large amount.
- Eating camel meat: breaks it for Hanbalis, based on Sahih Muslim 360. The majority say it doesn't.
Follow the school you learned from, or the one your local mosque follows.
What doesn't break wudu
- Eating and drinking normal food (apart from the camel meat view).
- Touching a dog: it doesn't break wudu, though many scholars say to wash off its saliva. See Can I keep my dog after becoming Muslim?
- Putting on socks or nail polish: these affect how you make wudu, not whether it breaks. See Do I have to take off my socks every time I make wudu? and Can I pray with nail polish on?
- Cutting hair or nails, swearing or crying (bad words are sins, but they don't undo wudu).
When you're not sure
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about thinking he'd passed wind in prayer. He said: "He should not leave his prayers unless he hears sound or smells something" (Sahih al-Bukhari 137). Certainty isn't cancelled by doubt, so carry on unless you're sure.
- Toilet, wind, deep sleep and unconsciousness break wudu.
- Things requiring ghusl need a full bath.
- Touching private parts, bleeding and camel meat are debated.
- Doubt alone doesn't break your wudu.
People also ask
Does sleeping break wudu?
Yes, deep sleep breaks wudu, but light dozing while seated usually doesn't. Here's how the four schools draw the line, with everyday cases.
Read the full answer →Does bleeding break wudu?
Does bleeding break wudu? Hanafis say flowing blood does, Shafi'is and Malikis say a cut doesn't, and Hanbalis say only a large amount does.
Read the full answer →Does vaping break wudu?
No, vaping doesn't break wudu, since it isn't a nullifier. Rinse your mouth before prayer for the smell; many scholars discourage vaping.
Read the full answer →Does a shower count as wudu?
Does a shower count as wudu? A proper ghusl does for most scholars; a regular shower depends on intention, order and your school of law.
Read the full answer →Do I have to shower after taking my shahada?
It depends on the school, but it's a good idea. Ghusl after the shahada is recommended or required. Here's how to do it.
Read the full answer →