What if I break my wudu during prayer?
Mostly, you stop, make wudu again and pray again. If your wudu really breaks during prayer, the prayer is no longer valid, so quietly step away, renew your wudu and start the prayer over. Most schools say this, while the Hanafi school allows resuming in some cases. If you are only unsure, you carry on.
Why the prayer stops
Wudu is a condition for prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said that the prayer of someone who has broken wudu is not accepted until he makes wudu again, and when asked what that means, Abu Hurayrah explained it as passing wind (Sahih al-Bukhari 135). This applies even if the break was accidental or happened in the middle of a prayer.
It isn't a sin when it happens by accident. It just means you renew your wudu and pray again. See What breaks wudu?
First, make sure it really broke
Many worshippers imagine something in prayer. The rule from the Prophet ﷺ is that you should not leave prayer unless you hear a sound or smell something (Sahih al-Bukhari 137). A feeling or a "maybe" does not count, so keep praying. See What if I am not sure whether my wudu is broken?
What to do if it did break
- Leave calmly. You don't need to say anything or finish the rak'ah. Simply walk out of the row.
- Make wudu. Do it as normal and, if needed, wash after using the toilet first.
- Pray again. Most scholars (Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) say you start the prayer from the beginning.
The Hanafi school is more lenient when the break was unintentional. In some cases it allows you to renew wudu and continue from where you stopped, provided you haven't spoken or done something unrelated to prayer. Ask your imam if you follow this school, because the conditions are detailed.
If you are in a congregation
If you are praying behind an imam, just step out quietly. The people next to you will close the gap, and nobody will think badly of you. After wudu, you can join the congregation if the prayer is still going or pray on your own if it has ended. See What if I join the congregation late?
If the time for prayer is about to end, make wudu as quickly as you can and pray. You do not need to worry about being slow.
- If wudu truly breaks in prayer, the prayer is no longer valid.
- Leave, renew your wudu and pray again; the Hanafi school allows resuming in some cases.
- Doubt or a feeling is not enough to stop; you need to hear or smell something, or be sure.
- Accidents are not sinful, and nobody should judge you for stepping out.
People also ask
What is nifas and when do I do ghusl after childbirth?
Nifas is bleeding after childbirth. Do ghusl and pray again as soon as it stops; the limit is 40 days in some schools and 60 in others.
Read the full answer →What if I forget to wash a part of my wudu?
If you forget to wash a part of wudu, wash it now and, in some schools, redo what followed. If you already prayed, repeat that prayer after wudu.
Read the full answer →What if I am not sure whether my wudu is broken?
Doubt does not cancel wudu. If you were sure you had wudu, it stays valid until you are certain something broke it. Here is how to apply the rule.
Read the full answer →What can I use to clean najis at home?
Water purifies najis; soap and detergent help lift it. Remove the impurity, then rinse with clean water until the traces are gone.
Read the full answer →What are the Islamic manners of using the toilet?
Islamic toilet manners are simple: say the dua, keep privacy, clean with your left hand, avoid public paths and say Ghufranaka on leaving.
Read the full answer →