Will you explain the issue of blood invalidating wudu according to madhhabs with their evidences?

- According to Hanafi madhhab, blood invalidates wudu; what is the evidence shown for it?
- Blood does not invalidate wudu according to other madhhabs; what are their evidences?

Dear Brother / Sister,

According to Hanafis blood, pus, purulence, etc. invalidate wudu. According to Hanafis, blood invalidates wudu if it flows somewhere that needs to be cleaned. That somewhere is the body. That is, it needs to be cleaned in general. It is also valid for a place that is mandub to clean; for instance, blood flowing inside the nose.

According to Hanbalis, the amount of blood must be a lot. A lot varies from person to person. The thinness or largeness of the body can be considered while determining that amount. For instance, if some blood comes out from a thin person and if it is regarded as a lot for him, his wudu is invalidated; otherwise, it is not invalidated. For, Ibn Abbas said, "What is meant by a lot is what is regarded as a lot in your eye."

The evidences of Hanafis are the following hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh):

"It is necessary to make wudu for every blood that flows." (1)

"If a person vomits or blood flows from his nose in prayer, let him exit the prayer and make wudu. Then, let him resume his prayer as long as he does not speak." (2)

"If one or two drops of blood come out, there is no need to make wudu unless it flows." (3)

The view of Hanbalis is the following hadith reported by Tirmidhi from Fatima b. Abu Hubaysh:

"It is blood that comes out of a blood vessel. Therefore, make wudu for every prayer."

As for the issue of a less amount not invalidating wudu, the following evidences exist: What is understood from Ibn Abbas's statement,

"If it is too much, it is necessary to make wudu again",

Ibn Umar squeezing an acne and performing a prayer without making wudu though blood came out from the acne, Ibn Abu Awfa squeezing an abscess and acting like Ibn Umar and other practices. (4)

Malikis and Shafiis decreed that blood and similar things would not invalidate wudu. Their evidence is the following hadith narrated by Hz. Anas:

"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) got his blood drawn and led a prayer without making wudu. He only washed the places that he got his blood drawn."(5)

They also show the following hadith reported by Abbad b. Bishr as evidence:

"An arrow hit the Prophet (pbuh) while he was praying but he continued praying."(6)

It is impossible for the Prophet (pbuh) not to notice such an incident; if it had been so, it would have been reported to us that the Prophet (pbuh) would have told him that his prayer was invalidated. 

Footnotes:

1. Daraqutni reported it from Tamim ad-Dari.
2. Ibn Majah reported it from Hz. Aisha.
3. Daraqutni reported it from Abu Hurayra as marfu.
4. Naylul-Awtar, I, 189
5. Daraqutni and Bayhaqi reported it.
6. Bukhari mentioned it as ta’liq. Besides, Abu Dawud and Ibn Huzay reported it.

(Prof. Dr. Wahba Zuhayli, İslam Fıkhı Ansiklopedisi)

Questions on Islam