What breaks wudu?
Wudu is broken by using the bathroom, passing gas, deep sleep and losing consciousness. On a few other things, such as bleeding or vomiting, the four schools differ, so follow your school. Once wudu is broken, you make a new one before the next prayer.
By Benjamin · Last updated
What breaks wudu in every school
- Using the bathroom (urine or stool)
- Passing gas
- Deep sleep
- Losing consciousness, for example fainting
Where the schools differ
- Bleeding or flowing pus: breaks wudu in the Hanafi school, and in the Hanbali school when it is a lot. It does not in the Maliki and Shafi'i schools.
- Vomiting a mouthful: breaks wudu in the Hanafi school, and in the Hanbali school when it is a lot. It does not in the Maliki and Shafi'i schools.
- Touching your private parts directly with the hand: breaks wudu in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, not in the Hanafi school.
- Touching the skin of someone of the opposite sex who is not a close relative: breaks wudu in the Shafi'i school; in the Maliki and Hanbali schools only with desire; not in the Hanafi school.
What does not break wudu
- Eating and drinking
- Light dozing while sitting firmly (in most schools)
- Doubt: if you are not sure whether you broke it, your wudu stays
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Common questions
Does sleeping break wudu?
Deep sleep does. A light doze while sitting firmly does not, in most schools.
I am not sure if I broke my wudu. What do I do?
Certainty is not removed by doubt. If you are sure you made wudu and only doubt whether you broke it, your wudu stays.
Do I need a new wudu after a shower?
A shower does not break wudu. If nothing broke it, you can pray. If you did a ghusl with wudu inside it, you can also pray.
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