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The Validity of Wudu After Sleep 

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Sidi Fadi Qutub Zada

My question deals with wudu and if it is valid after sleep. For example, if I performed wudu, then prayed Isha Salat, then went to sleep, would my wudu be valid when I wake up for Fajr Salat? My confusion comes from not knowing whether I have blown wind during my sleep. And if the wudu is invalid after such a sleep, is it also necessary to clean the private parts? Along with this, can you explain in depth what exactly the following action that invalidates wudu means: ”the sleep of one whose rear is not firmly seated”

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

My question deals with wudu and if it is valid after sleep
Shaykh Faraz mentions in his book “The Absolute Essentials of Islam,” that ritual ablution is nullified by sleeping lying down or reclining on one’s side. He adds, “if one sleeps with one’s rear firmly seated, one’s ritual ablution is not invalidated.”

And if the wudu is invalid after such a sleep, is it also necessary to clean the private parts?
No, one is not supposed to clean the private parts. Gas that is passed during sleep or when awake does not make ones private parts filthy.

Along with this, can you explain in depth what exactly the following action that invalidates wudu means: ”the sleep of one whose rear is not firmly seated”
It means, the sleep of one whose back private part is not firmly on the ground. So if one sleeps lying down on one’s back or stomach, reclining, or one’s side, one’s wudu would be nullified. If one sleep sitting on the ground, or on a chair with one’s rear firmly seated, one’s wudu would remain valid.

Also, when one breaks wudu for reasons other than solids/liquids leaving the private parts is it necessary to clean the private parts even though they are not the reason for the breaking of the wudu?
No. Imam al-Haskafi in al-Durr al-Mukhtar defines istinja (cleaning one’s private parts) as: “the removal of filth from the private parts. For this reason, it is not sunna to clean one’s private parts from gas, stones, sleep, etc.” Scholars mention that doing istinja after passing wind is an innovation.

And Allah knows best

Fadi Qutub

This answer was indexed from Qibla.com, which used to have a repository of Islamic Q&A answered by various scholars. The website is no longer in existence. It has now been transformed into a learning portal with paid Islamic course offering under the brand of Kiflayn.

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