Is fasting invalidated due to gingival bleeding and having a tooth pulled out? Is the statement ‘Make wudu like a bird and perform prayer like a stone’ true?

Dear Brother / Sister,

1. The decree that fasting is invalidated if the blood coming out from the gingiva is swallowed is valid for the four madhhabs. However, fasting is not invalidated if the blood is not swallowed.

When the blood that comes from between the teeth, it does not invalidate fasting if it is a little and if it does not go down the throat because it is not possible to avoid it. Even if the blood is more, it does not invalidate wudu if saliva is more than blood. However, if blood is more than saliva and if the taste of blood is felt or if blood is as much as saliva, fasting is invalidated if it is swallowed. The same decree is valid for the tooth that is pulled.

2. If the blood that comes out of the mouth in a flowing state, it invalidates wudu if the blood is more than or equal to saliva. It has nothing to do with spitting it out or not. The normal rule is as follows: Wudu is not invalidated unless the blood that comes out of the body flows or unless it spreads around the place it comes out. (cf. İSAM, İlmihal, 1/199)

The decree “Wudu is not invalidated due to the bleeding in the mouth unless one spits it out” is deduced from the decree “unless it spreads around the place it comes out.”. However, if it comes out from gingiva it means it has flown into the mouth from the place it comes out even if it does not come out of the mouth. Therefore, we do not think that this decree is appropriate. It is necessary to spit in order to understand whether a bleeding that occurs in the mouth invalidates wudu or not.

3. It is not appropriate to limit making wudu with a certain period of time.  There is a difference in terms of time between making wudu with water from a jug and water coming from a tap; similarly, there is a different between an old person and a young person. What matters is to make wudu by paying attention to the fards and sunnahs of wudu. It may sometimes take a short time but sometimes a longer time. Another important point is to think that one will enter into the presence of Allah after making wudu and make a spiritual, hearty and mental preparation accordingly. When Hz. Ali made wudu, the color of his face would change. When they asked him about it, he would say, “I will enter into the presence of Allah now.” If there are people waiting for wudu in line, “wudu should be proper but light (fast) like a bird.” Prayer “should be heavy (slow) like a stone and be performed in awe” as much as possible. Maybe this is meant by that statement.

Questions on Islam