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Q&A · Purification

Does sleeping break your wudu?

Deep sleep in which a person loses awareness breaks wudu, because sleep is a likely cause (mazinnah) for passing wind without noticing; the Prophet (peace be upon him) listed sleep among the things that oblige renewing ablution before wiping over the khuff. However, light dozing while seated — where one would still feel if something came out — does not break wudu, since Anas reported that the Companions used to doze while waiting for Isha, their heads nodding, then prayed without renewing wudu. Scholars differ over the exact threshold; the balanced view (favoured by Ibn Taymiyyah) is that wudu is only nullified by sleep deep enough that a person would not feel wind exiting.

Evidence — the daleel
Sahih Muslim (narration of Anas ibn Malik on the Companions dozing before prayer)Jami' al-Tirmidhi 96 (Safwan ibn 'Assal)
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Informational, not a personal fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for rulings on your situation.

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