Wudu (وضوء) is ritual purification in Islam. It can be translated as “Ablution”. Sometimes it is translated as ‘half ablution”, ghusl (Islamic bath) being the “complete ablution”. In any case, it means purifying oneself by washing certain parts of the body, in preparation for performing any act of worship, such as prayer or recitation of the Quran.
Being a religious requirement, the details of wudu are explicitly mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. It covers all the important requirements on how to perform wudu, what breaks wudu, and what does not break it. All aspects of wudu are also explained in the Islamic jurisprudence, which is based on the Quranic verses and Sunnah. With some differences of opinion, all four schools of thought, Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali, have consensus on the majority of the aspects of wudu. Despite all these differences of opinion, the main issues about what invalidates wudu and what does not are almost the same.
The questions like “does crying break wudu?” can easily be understood if we have at least the basic knowledge on various aspects of wudu.
Wudu In Quran and Hadith
The basic guidelines on wudu are given in the 6th verse of Surah Al-Ma’ida:
Translation
O believers, when you stand up for the service of prayer wash your faces and hands up to elbows, and also wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of seminal pollution, then bathe and purify yourself well. But in case you are ill or are travelling, or you have satisfied the call of nature, or have slept with a woman, and you cannot find water, then take wholesome dust and pass it over your face and your hands, for God does not wish to impose any hardship on you. He wishes to purify you and grace you with His favours in full so that you may be grateful.
The above verse explicitly describes the following important things about wudu:
- Wudu is required when we intend to offer prayer. Here, the scholars include all types of worship in prayer, like recitation of the Quran.
- The essentials of wudu include washing the face, hands up to elbows, wiping the head, and washing feet up to ankles.
- If someone is in seminal pollution, he/she need to purify by having ghusl (bathe).
- Satisfying the call of nature breaks wudu.
- If water is not available, we can use dust or sand to perform wudu (tayammam), in special conditions, such as an illness, while traveling, etc.
So, this verse forms the base of the entire concept of wudu in Islam. Similarly, different Hadiths explain various aspects of wudu, including its importance, what breaks it, and so on.
Hadith 135 of Sahih Al-Bukhari speaks about the circumstances when wudu becomes compulsory. It includes passing of urine, stool, or wind:
Translation
The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool, or wind) is not accepted till he performs the ablution.” A person from Hadaramout asked Abu Huraira, “What is ‘Hadath’?” Abu Huraira replied, ” ‘Hadath’ means the passing of wind.”
Similarly, Hadith 1221 of Sunan Ibn Majah explains that wudu would be required in the event of vomiting, belches, and nose bleeding:
Translation
Whoever vomits, has a nosebleed, belches, or emits prostatic fluid, should stop praying; perform ablution, then resume his prayer, and while he is in that state he should not speak.
What Breaks Wudu?
Based on the above-referred Hadiths and many others on the subject, scholars have derived a complete list of what breaks and what does not break wudu.
The events or actions that break Wudu can be summarized as under:
- When anything exits from the two private parts: It includes passing of stool or urine. It also includes the passing of wind or semen.
- In case of flatulence: This means passing of gas, which also breaks wudu.
- Loss of Consciousness: Conditions such as insanity, intoxication, and fainting are included in this case. In any such case, wudu will be invalidated.
- Deep Sleep: If one goes into deep sleep, it breaks wudu because, in this case, there will be no control over the passing of gas. Hence, wudu is considered invalid if one goes into deep sleep. However, a short dizziness while sitting may not break wudu. But to be on the safe side, one should repeat wudu.
- Touching the Private Parts: Touching the private parts, whether own or someone else breaks wudu. However, as per the Hanafi school of thought, it may not break wudu if it is done without desire. One should avoid doing so if in the state of wudu.
- Physical Contact with Opposite Gender: The Opposite gender is more explicitly described in Islamic Jurisprudence as being non-Mehram. In such an event, the majority consensus is that wudu would deem broken, irrespective of having done so with desire or without desire. However, as per the Hanafi school of thought, wudu would not break in the absence of sexual pleasure.
- Mouthful of Vomiting: According to Hanafi jurisprudence, a mouthful of vomiting breaks wudu, whereas it does not break according to the other three schools of thought.
- Bleeding: Considerable bleeding breaks wudu, whereas minor discharge of blood may not.
- Laughing during Prayer: Laughing loudly during the prayer (salah) breaks both the prayer and wudu.
- Sexual activities: Sexual intercourse not only breaks wudu but also requires complete ghusl.
- Menstruation: Wudu remains invalid during the entire phase of menstruation for females. After completion of the cycle, females not only require wudu but also have to take ghusl.
- Postpartum: Wudu becomes invalid during this phase. Ghusl and wudu are both required after it.
- Eating Camel Meat: According to Hanbali jurisprudence, wudu breaks when someone eats camel meat. However, as per other schools of thought, wudu does not break in this event.
What Does Not Break Wudu?
There are a lot of circumstances where wudu remains intact, especially if it does not fall under the list of events and actions that break it.
Main activities and events that we may experience in our day-to-day life not breaking wudu can be summarized as under:
- Changing clothes.
- Cutting or trimming nails.
- Taking a light nap while sitting, unless in deep sleep.
- Touching someone of the opposite gender, without sexual desire.
- Nominal bleeding.
- Slight vomiting.
- Eating or drinking.
- Laughing or crying outside of prayer.
- Applying perfume or make-up.
- Hearing or watching a thing, which is otherwise deemed to be Haram.
- Fever, cold, or cough.
- Touching a dead body. Though it does not break wudu, it is better to redo it.
- Crying does not break wudu.
Does Crying Break Wudu?
If we look at the above two lists, describing what breaks wudu and what does not, the answer to this important question is obvious: crying does not break wudu.
Further clarifications on this question are as under:
- As a general rule, crying does not break wudu if the tears do not flow beyond the eye area.
- Crying does not break wudu if it does not include vomiting, blood, or pus.
- Normal Crying during prayer or supplication due to fear of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, does not break wudu.
- In case crying ends up in losing consciousness, wudu will be broken.
So, the answer to the question “Does crying break wudu?” is no, it doesn’t.
Conclusion
Wudu is a ritual purification in Islam, which is required to be done before prayer or reading the Quran, or any other act of worship. The validity of wudu is explicitly mentioned in the Quran, Hadith, and the four schools of thought, known as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali. The circumstances, conditions, and events that result in invalidation of wudu are also explained with complete details in the Islamic Jurisprudence.
The simple and straightforward answer to the question “Does crying break wudu?” is “No, crying does not break wudu”. However, if the crying is so severe that someone may fall into unconsciousness or faint, wudu will be considered broken. Similarly, in the event of vomiting or bleeding as a result of crying, wudu will be broken.
Most importantly, in case of any doubt, redoing wudu is the best option.
