Matters that Invalidate or Do not Invalidate Wudu’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wudu’ does not become invalid unless something from your two passages of lower end, which Allah has granted you, comes out.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), about a fistula (a bad wound) if it invalidates Wudu’ or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘Only three things invalidate Wudu’: urine, feces and gas.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Satan blows in the man’s buttocks to make him feel as if gas comes out. This does not invalidate Wudu’ unless one hears gas coming out or senses its smell.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not necessary to take Wudu’ because of the coming out of one’s buttock, such things as pumpkin seeds or small worms; they are like lice.’”

“It is about the case of a man from whose buttocks such things like pumpkin seed may come out. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘It is not necessary for him to take Wudu’.’”

“I asked abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about things that invalidate Wudu’. They said, ‘Of such things are that which come out of one’s two bottom outlets, buttocks and urethra, in the form of urine or feces, semen or gas; as well as sleeping which stops understanding and all kinds of sleep is undesirable unless one is still able to hear.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam), ‘Does the medicine that one may keep inside his body during Salah (prayer), invalidate his Wudu’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not invalidate his Wudu’ but he must not perform Salah (prayer) before taking it away.’”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who belches and something comes out in his mouth. Is he required to take Wudu’ again?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not necessary for him to take Wudu’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about vomiting if it invalidates Wudu’ or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it does not invalidate one’s Wudu’.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one vomits while his Wudu’ is valid, he should only rinse his mouth.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose Wudu’ is valid but he shaves his head or cuts his nails; is it necessary for him to take Wudu’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but he should wipe his head and nails with water.’ I then said, ‘They say that there is Wudu’ for it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If they argue with you do not argue against them. Say to them, ‘This is according to the Sunnah.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not necessary to take Wudu’ for kissing, touching private parts or because of contact.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about bleeding of nostrils and cupping and all other kinds of bleeding. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not necessary to take Wudu’ for such things. It is necessary to take Wudu’ only when something comes out of the two outlets of the bottom that Allah has granted you.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who suffers from a certain illness because of which he is not able to lie down. It is difficult for him to take Wudu’ in a sitting position and leaning against something. He may also slumber when he is sitting. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must take Wudu’.’ I then said, ‘Taking Wudu’ is difficult for him with such condition.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When he cannot hear any sound Wudu’ becomes necessary on him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible for him to delay al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer) to perform it along with al-‘Asr Salah (prayer) and al-Maghrib Salah (prayer) with al-‘Isha’ Salah (prayer).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about slumbering once or twice. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not know what slumbering once or twice is; however Allah says, “Man is well aware of his soul.” Ali (a.s.), would say, “If one feels the taste of sleep when standing or sitting, it then becomes necessary for him to take Wudu’.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There are ears and eyes. Eyes may sleep but not yet the ears. This does not invalidate Wudu’. When both eyes and ears sleep, Wudu’ becomes invalid.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who cuts some of his hairs with his teeth. Should he wipe it with water before Salah (prayer)? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. This (wiping) applies only when it is with iron.’”