Ablution is required to offer prayers. If there is no ablution, there is no prayer. So ablution is necessary for prayer. Purification is achieved through azu. Allah’s pleasure is also gained. There are some reasons for breaking ablution. Again there are some reasons, which seem to be reasons for breaking ablution. But ablution is not broken through these. One such question is – Does sneezing break wudu?
Short answer
No, sneezing doesn’t break Wudu. Because it is not among the reasons for breaking ablution. There are other things that appear to break ablution but are not. In fact, the following matters are similar to those in which ablution is broken. But it does not invalidate ablution.
All these reasons do not break Wudu
If blood comes out; But does not fall from its place. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba: 1/137) ♦ If an insect comes out of a wound or ear. (Musannaf Abdir Razzaq: 1/629)
If vomit mixed with phlegm. Because expectoration is not called ‘Hadas’ in Islamic terminology. Ablution is wajib only if it is ‘Hadas’, not otherwise. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith: 9301) ♦ Falling asleep while the hips are touching the ground. (Abu Dawud, Hadith: 172)
If the flesh of the body falls; But the blood does not come out. For example, Irke Madani. It is a kind of blister, which rises on the surface of the skin and sometimes falls off the body with the flesh; But usually the blood does not come out.
Because the objects that break ablution may be impure themselves or impurity due to attachment to impure objects; But the meat is cooked. So if the meat falls, it does not break the Wudu. If blood flows along with it, ablution will be broken due to the flowing blood. (Darakutni: 581, 591, Sharehe Bekaya: 1/37)
Ablution does not break due to sleep of a praying person. May it be standing or sitting, ruku or prostration. (Sunan Kubra Lil Bayhaqi, Hadith: 609)
Therefore, it should be noted that even if it seems that ablution is broken due to these reasons, they are not the reason for breaking Wudu.
7 reasons for breaking wudu
One. Passing something through the toilet and urinary tract. Like air, urine, insects etc. [Hedaya-1/7]
It has been said, ‘If any of you urinates (purify himself to pray)’ (Surah Ma’idah-6)
Narrated by Abbas (RA).
Surely Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, whatever comes out of the body, it breaks the ablution….’ (Sunan Kubra Lilbayhaqi, Hadith No-568)
Discharge of blood, pus, or water. [Hedaya-1/10]
When Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) had a nosebleed, he would go back and perform ablution. [Muatta Malik-110]
Vomit full of mouth
Narrated by Aisha (RA). He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever vomits, or has a nosebleed, or discharges maji (white water that comes out before intercourse), then he should go back and perform ablution.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No-1221]
Equal or greater proportion of blood with sputum
Hasan Basri Rah. He said that a person who sees blood in his sputum does not need to perform ablution if the blood in the sputum is not profuse. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Hadith No-1330)
Sleeping in a reclining position
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA). Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, sleeping in Sijda does not break ablution, but it breaks if you lie on your stomach, because if you lie on your stomach or on your back, the body becomes loose. [As a result, there is a possibility that speech will become karma] (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No-2315, Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith No-202)
If mad, drunk or unconscious.
Hammad (RA) said, When a mad person recovers, he should perform ablution for prayer. (Musannaf Abdur Razzaq, Hadith No-493)
Laugh out loud in prayer.
Narrated by Imran bin Hussain (RA). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever laughs loudly during prayer, he will repeat ablution and prayer.”
Hasan bin Qutaiba (RA) said, When a person laughs loudly, that person will repeat ablution and prayer. [Sunan Dara Qutni, Hadith No-612]
FAQs
Can I say Alhamdulillah if I sneeze in prayer?
No, if you sneeze in prayer, don’t say Alhamdulillah. But if Alhamdulillah comes unintentionally, then his Salat will not be lost. Because it is not permissible to deliberately increase anything in Salat that is associated with Salat. But if it comes unintentionally, if it is related to the prayer, then the prayer will not be invalidated
Does sneezing break the wudu?
No, sneezing does not break the wudu. Wudu is invalidated only by certain actions such as using the bathroom, blowing air, etc. According to Islamic jurisprudence, sneezing does not invalidate ablution. Because sneezing is a normal bodily function.
Why do people often say Alhamdulillah after sneezing?
“Alhamdulillah” after sneezing is an important Sunnah. In Sahih Bukhari, it was narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ) that he said – Verily, Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning.
So when one of you sneezes and says Alhamdulillah, it is the duty of every Muslim who hears it to say Yarhamukallah. And yawning is from Satan. When one of you yawns, let him try to resist it as much as he can. Because when one of you yawns and yawns, Satan laughs at him.
It is also mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, when one of you sneezes, he should say ‘Alhamdu Lillah’. Let his brother or companion (whoever hears it) say ‘Yarhamukallah’. When saying ‘Yarhakamullah’ to the sneeze giver, the sneeze giver should say: يَهْدِيْكُمُ الله وَيُصْلِحْ بَالَكُمْ That is, may Allah guide you and correct your condition.
Is it necessary to renew prayer after sneezing?
No, there is no need to renew the prayer after sneezing. Because sneezing prayer does not break ablution. But if one crosses the wind or does any act that invalidates ablution, he must renew it before performing any act of worship such as prayer.
Is there any specific etiquette to follow while sneezing?
Yes, according to Islamic teachings, there is etiquette when sneezing: saying “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to God) after sneezing.
If someone says “Alhamdulillah” after sneezing, it is recommended to reply with “Yarhamuk Allah” (May God have mercy on you).
