Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Detailed Fiqh Rulings on Wuḍū: Blisters, Vomiting, Laughing, Sleep & Doubt

Blisters and Pimples

1.     If a blister is burst by rubbing and its fluid flowed, Wuḍū would become invalid; otherwise not.

(ibid, pp. 305)

2.     If the pimple has completely healed; just its dead skin has remained with an opening on the top and space inside, if water fills inside the skin that is pressed to take the water out; neither Wuḍū will become invalid nor that water is impure. However, if some wetness of blood etc. was present inside it, Wuḍū will become invalid and that ejected water is also impure.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 355-356, vol. 1)

If there is no flowing fluid in pimple or if itching does not cause fluid-flowing; there is just stickiness, no matter how many times clothes touch it, they will remain pure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

3.     While cleaning the nose, if dried up blood came out, it would not affect the Wuḍū; however, repeating the Wuḍū is preferred.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 281, vol. 1)

When does Vomiting Nullify One's Wuḍū?

Vomiting food or water that is a mouthful invalidates Wuḍū. It is considered a mouthful when it cannot be prevented easily. This vomit is as impure as urine, so it is vital to protect the clothes and body from being stained by it.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 306, 390 etc, vol. 1)

Rulings about Laughing

1.     If an adult laughed in a Ṣalāĥ, consisting of Rukū' and Sujūd, so loudly that people in vicinity heard his laughing, his Wuḍū and Ṣalāĥ, both became invalid. If he laughed loudly such that only he listened to it, his Ṣalāĥ will become null (invalid) but there will be no effect on his Wuḍū. Smiling (without creating a sound) will not nullify Wuḍū and Ṣalāĥ.

(Marāqil Falāḥ, pp. 91)

2.     If one laughs loudly in a funeral prayer, his Ṣalāĥ will become invalid but there will be no effect on his Wuḍū.

(ibid, pp. 92)

3.     Although laughing when not offering Ṣalāĥ does not invalidate Wuḍū, renewal of Wuḍū is Mustaḥab.

(Marāqil Falāḥ, pp. 84)

Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never laughed loudly so we should attempt to revive this Sunnaĥ and avoid laughing loudly. Our beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: "Smiling is from Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ and laughing is from Satan."

(Al-Mu'jam-uş-Şaghīr, pp. 104, vol. 2)

Does Looking at a Person's Sitr Nullify Wuḍū?

Many amongst the public believe that unveiling one's own knees or Sitr (private part of body below navel up to knees) or looking at one's own or someone else's knees or Sitr nullifies Wuḍū; this is a wrong concept. However, to keep the Sitr covered is one of the manners of Wuḍū; in fact the Sitr should be covered immediately after Istinjā (excretion washing). To unveil the Sitr unnecessarily is prohibited and to unveil it before others is Ḥarām.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 309, vol. 1)

The Wuḍū Done during Ghusl is Sufficient

Once Wuḍū is done during Ghusl (ritual bath), it does not need to be repeated again. Even if one does not perform Wuḍū during Ghusl, he will be considered to have performed it because the organs of Wuḍū get washed during Ghusl. Changing clothes does not affect Wuḍū.

Blood in Saliva

1.     If there is bleeding in the mouth and the blood dominates the saliva, it will invalidate the Wuḍū; otherwise not. The blood will be considered dominant if the saliva is reddish and this saliva will be impure. If the saliva is yellowish in colour, saliva will be considered dominant over blood and therefore the Wuḍū will not become invalid and this saliva will not be considered impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 305, vol. 1)

2.     In case of blood being dominant over saliva, taking water from a cup or container by touching mouth will render the container and all its contents impure. Hence, in such a case, it is advisable to take water in hand from the cup for rinsing of mouth. Also take care against sprinkling of this impure water on clothes.

Urine and Vomit of an Infant

1.     The urine of an infant, even a one day old, is as impure as of anybody else.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 390, vol. 1)

2.     If an infant vomits a mouthful of milk, it is as impure as urine, but if the milk has not reached the stomach and has reversed from the chest, it will not be impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

Five Rulings about Uncertainty in Wuḍū

1.     If you are dubious as to whether or not you have washed a particular organ in Wuḍū and if this is the first such incident in your life, wash that organ and if you have had the same doubt occasionally, ignore it. If you have similar doubt after Wuḍū, ignore it.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

2.     If you had Wuḍū but later had doubt whether or not it has become invalid, you are in the state of Wuḍū, because doubt does not affect the Wuḍū.

(ibid, pp. 311)

3.     Repeating Wuḍū in case of Waswasaĥ (satanic whisperings) is not a caution; instead it is obedience to Satan.

(ibid)

4.     Wuḍū will remain valid until you are so sure that you can swear that your Wuḍū has nullified.

5.     If you know that any organ has been left unwashed during Wuḍū, but cannot recall which one is that, wash your left foot.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 310, vol. 1)

If Dog Touches the Body!

Clothes do not become impure if they come into contact with the body of a dog, even if it is wet. However, the saliva of dog is impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 395, vol. 1)

When and When not Sleeping would Nullify Wuḍū

There are two coincident conditions for the invalidation of Wuḍū due to sleep:

1.     Both buttocks not being seated firmly

2.     Sleeping in a manner that does not prevent deep sleep

If both above conditions co-exist, sleeping would nullify the Wuḍū

Following are ten positions of sleeping that do not affect Wuḍū

1.     Sitting with both buttocks seated on ground and both legs stretched out in one direction. (e.g. sitting on a chair, in a bus/train seat)

2.     Sitting with both buttocks on the ground and both shins encircled by hands; regardless of whether hands are on ground or head is rested onto the knees

3.     Sitting cross-legged, whether on ground or a bed etc.

4.     Sitting with folded legs and straight (as in Qa'daĥ)

5.     Sitting on a saddled horse or mule

6.     Sitting on the bare back of horse or mule provided it is walking uphill or on plain path

7.     Sleeping against a pillow with the buttocks firmly resting on the ground, even if he falls down on the removal of pillow

8.     Standing

9.     In Rukū' position

10. In the position defined for Sajdaĥ of men according to Sunnaĥ i.e. belly and thighs separated, arms and sides separated

Sleeping in above positions will not nullify Wuḍū. Even if one is in Ṣalāĥ, the Ṣalāĥ will not be nullified either, even if one sleeps deliberately. However, the part of Ṣalāĥ that is spent asleep must be repeated. If any act is offered partly awake and partly asleep, the part offered awake does not need to be repeated but the part offered asleep must be repeated.

Following are ten positions of sleeping that nullify Wuḍū:

1.     In a half sitting position (with the buttocks not touching the ground)

2.     Sleeping on one's back

3.     Sleeping on one's belly

4.     Sleeping on one's side

5.     Sleeping with one elbow raised

6.     Sitting down leaning to one side with one or both buttocks lifted off the ground

7.     Sitting on the bare back of an animal walking downwards

8.     Sleeping in the position of Tashaĥĥud with the stomach pressed against the thighs and both buttocks not pressed firmly

9.     Sitting with legs folded and head resting on thighs or shins

10. In the position of Sajdaĥ if it is done according to the female method (stomach pressed against the thighs, arms against sides, forearms on the ground)

Sleeping in any of these positions will nullify the Wuḍū regardless of whether or not a person is in Ṣalāĥ. However, deliberately sleeping in any of the mentioned postures will nullify the Ṣalāĥ too. If it is unintentional, only the Wuḍū will break and not the Ṣalāĥ. After completing Wuḍū, one can resume the Ṣalāĥ from where he left off (under certain conditions) but if he is unaware of the conditions he should start from the beginning.

(Fatāwā Radawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 365 to 367, vol. 1)

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