What is the wisdom behind invalidation of wudu by breaking wind?
Dear Brother / Sister,
The reason why breaking wind invalidates wudu is the hadiths about the issue:
Hz. Ali narrates:
A bedouin came and said, "O Messenger of Allah! We live in the desert and sometimes pass wind slightly." The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"Allah does not avoid telling the truth. When one of you breaks wind, let him make wudu." (Ahmad b. Hanbal, I/86)
The chain of narrators of this hadith is sound. (Kanzul-Ummal, 5/117) In addition, Ahmad Muhammad Shakir also said that the chain of narrators was sound and made detailed explanations.
On the other hand, the Prophet (pbuh) said,
"When hadath comes out from one of you, Allah will not accept his prayer until he makes wudu.”
When Abu Hurayra, who narrated this hadith, was asked, “What is hadath?”, he said,
“Breaking wind aloud or silently.” (Naylul-Awtar, 1/185)
The wisdom behind invalidation of wudu by breaking wind is not because it is dirty but because it comes from a dirty place. For, it comes from a place where there is impurity.
The wind coming from man’s sexual organ does not invalidate wudu. For, it is only a twitch. Twitching is not real wind. Even if it is, it does not invalidate wudu because it does not come from the place of impurity.
However, those who doubt whether they have passed wind or not or those who have delusions about it should know that their wudu is not invalidated unless a sound or smell comes.
As a matter of fact, the Prophet (pbuh) said,
“If any one of you feels something in his abdomen but is doubtful whether or not anything has come out from him, be should not leave the mosque unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell.” (Muslim, Hayd, 99; see Bukhari, Wudu 4, 36)
What is meant by perceiving a smell or hearing a sound is knowing the invalidation of wudu for sure. However, if a person knows that he has broken wind, his wudu is invalidated though he does not hear a sound or perceive a smell. For, not all winds produce a smell or a sound.
Questions on Islam
- Why does passing wind (gas) invalidate the wudu? If it becomes necessary to take wudu after passing wind (gas) then, isn't it a waste of time and water?
- Does wind/gas coming out of genital organs invalidate wudu?
- Does breaking wind or leakage like madhi coming out while making ghusl invalidate ghusl?
- Does the leakage that comes while making ghusl invalidate ghusl?
- What is Taharah (Cleanliness)?
- Does sleeping while sitting break wudu?
- Are there hadiths and evidences about bleeding invalidating wudu?
- Is ghusl necessary due to madhi?
- I feel delusions as if I pass wind when I have wudu and as if I break wudu. What should I do? I feel delusions while making ghusl too.
- Does water / liquid coming out of the acnes and pimples on the body invalidate wudu?
