Wudu: Ten Things That Do Not Invalidate It

Read the bilingual lesson for Wudu: Ten Things That Do Not Invalidate It and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. The Ten Non-Invalidators

عَشَرَةُ أَشْيَاءَ لَا تَنْقُضُ الْوُضُوءَ

The author lists exactly 10 things that do not invalidate Wudu.

2. Items 1–2: Non-Flowing Blood and Flesh

ظُهُورُ دَمٍ لَمْ يَسِلْ عَنْ مَحَلِّهِ، وَسُقُوطُ لَحْمٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ سَيَلَانِ دَمٍ كَالْعِرْقِ الْمَدَنِيِّ

1. Blood appears but does not flow beyond its place.
2. Flesh separates without flowing blood.

3. Items 3–5: Worm, Private Part, Woman

وَخُرُوجُ دُودَةٍ مِنْ جُرْحٍ وَأُذُنٍ وَأَنْفٍ، وَمَسُّ ذَكَرٍ، وَمَسُّ امْرَأَةٍ

3. A worm exits from a wound, ear or nose.
4. Touching one's penis/private part.
5. Touching a woman.

These do not invalidate Wudu by themselves in the Hanafi ruling stated here.

4. Items 6–7: Vomit and Phlegm

وَقَيْءٌ لَا يَمْلَأُ الْفَمَ، وَقَيْءُ بَلْغَمٍ وَلَوْ كَثِيرًا

6. Vomit less than a mouthful.
7. Vomiting phlegm, even if abundant.

5. Items 8–9: Swaying and Firmly Seated Sleep

وَتَمَايُلُ نَائِمٍ احْتَمَلَ زَوَالَ مَقْعَدَتِهِ، وَنَوْمُ مُتَمَكِّنٍ وَلَوْ مُسْتَنِدًا إِلَى شَيْءٍ لَوْ أُزِيلَ سَقَطَ عَلَى الظَّاهِرِ فِيهِمَا

8. A seated sleeper sways and lifting is only suspected, not established.
9. A person sleeps firmly seated, even leaning on a support that would cause a fall if removed, according to the stated ruling.

6. Item 10: Sleep in a Sunnah Prayer Posture

وَنَوْمُ مُصَلٍّ وَلَوْ رَاكِعًا أَوْ سَاجِدًا عَلَى جِهَةِ السُّنَّةِ

10. The sleep of a praying person does not invalidate Wudu when the person remains in the Sunnah form of the prayer posture, even in Ruku or Sujud.

7. All Ten at a Glance

1. Blood appears but does not flow
2. Flesh separates without flowing blood
3. Worm exits wound/ear/nose
4. Touching one's private part
5. Touching a woman
6. Vomit less than mouthful
7. Phlegm vomit even if much
8. Swaying sleeper with only doubt of lifting
9. Firmly seated sleep, including stated support case
10. Sleep in a Sunnah prayer posture

Practice questions

Question 1

Why does vomiting phlegm (Balgham) NOT break Wudu in the Hanafi school, even if the amount is excessive?

Because phlegm originates from the stomach.
Because phlegm is legally classified as pure (not a physical filth/Najasah).
Only if the person was fasting.
Because vomiting is always recommended.

Question 2

If a worm exits from a wound on a person's leg, or from their ear, their Wudu is broken.

Question 3

Under which condition does sleeping in prostration (Sujud) during prayer NOT break Wudu according to the text?

Under any condition.
Only if the person is a woman.
If the prostration is performed according to the Sunnah specification.
Only if the prayer is a voluntary Nafl prayer.

Question 4

A person who sleeps firmly seated loses Wudu merely because they are leaning on a support that would make them fall if removed.

Question 5

What is the ruling on touching one's own private parts (Mas al-Dhakar) without a barrier in Hanafi Fiqh?

It invalidates Wudu.
It is a recommended etiquette (Adab).
It does NOT invalidate Wudu.
It necessitates performing Ghusl.

Question 6

If blood appears on a wound but does not flow beyond the point where it emerged, what happens to Wudu?

Wudu remains valid.
Wudu is invalid immediately.
Ghusl becomes obligatory.
Tayammum becomes obligatory.

Question 7

Sort the following scenarios into "Wudu is Valid" and "Wudu is Broken":

Question 8

If a sleeping person sways or nods sitting on the floor such that there is a suspicion that their buttocks lifted, but they are not certain, their Wudu is broken due to the doubt.

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