Is Wudu Broken by Picking Your Nose? | Clear Answer with Islamic Insights

Hi again! Things that break wudu are an important topic in Islamic legal literacy. Muslims must understand these matters to know whether their wudu has been broken or not. Many have sought explanations in Islamic books, on the internet, and elsewhere. One common question that some Muslims often ask is: Is wudu broken by picking your nose?

Regardless of your reason for reading this article, I am confident you are looking for an explanation about picking your nose and its effect on wudu: Is wudu broken by picking your nose or not? Trust me! I will not disappoint you today. That's what I will explain now, so you just need to read this article to the end!

Wudu: General Things You Should Understand

First of all, let's address the question, "Is wudu broken by picking your nose?" What I will explain now are some general concepts about wudu that you must understand. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts at the beginning of this discussion is essential for comprehending the main topic very well.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

The general aspects of wudu that you must understand are as follows:

What Is Wudu?

As a Muslim, it's crucial to understand the meaning of wudu. This understanding will help you grasp other explanations about it. If you don't comprehend the meaning of wudu, it will be very difficult to understand other discussions on the topic, as it is the most basic element.

If you read some Islamic legal literature, you will find the following explanations about wudu:

اِسْتِعْمَالُ الْمَاءِ فِيْ أَعْضَاءٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ مُفَتَّتَحًا بِنِيَّةٍ

Using water on certain parts of the body that begins with the intention.

التَعَبُّدُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِغَسْلِ أَعْضَاءٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ ، عَلَى صِفَةٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ

Worship Allah Azza wa Jalla by washing certain parts of the body in a specific manner.

Read Also: How Many Mustahabat of Wudu Are There?

These two definitions provide a general understanding of wudu. The detailed meaning of wudu involves using water in a specific way and with a specific Niyyah as an act of worship to Allah. Specifically, it entails washing and wiping certain parts of the body to remove minor hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) as an obligation and act of worship to Allah.

Why Is Wudu Important?

All topics discussed in Islamic legal literacy are important. Fasting in Ramadan, for instance, is crucial, which is why there are many explanations about it, such as when Ramadan fasting starts, what breaks fasting, what is recommended during fasting, and so on. Wudu is equally significant.

Now, do you know why wudu is important? If you want to understand the importance of wudu, pay attention to the Quranic verses and hadiths below:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ اٰمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَأَنْتُمْ سُكٰرَى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِي سَبِيلٍ حَتَّى تَغْتَسِلُوا ۗ وَإِن كُنتُمْ مَّرْضَىٓ أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. (An-Nisa' [4]: 43).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Allah does not accept someone's prayer if he has hadas (minor hadas) until he performs wudu." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Read Also: Do You Have to Perform Wudu After Eating?

If you understand the Quranic verse and hadith above, you can conclude that wudu is very important in Islam for several reasons:

1. Wudu is the most essential means to remove minor hadas.
2. Allah Taala will not accept the prayers of Muslims who have minor hadas.

Niyyah for Wudu

The Niyyah for wudu is another critical aspect that you must understand well. Why? The reason is straightforward: Niyyah is the foundation for everything we do. If our Niyyah is good, then everything we do will be good. Conversely, if our Niyyah is bad, then everything we do will be bad. You can find this explanation in the following hadith:

عَنْ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ وَلِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ

From Umar radliyallahu anhu, that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Actions are judged by intentions, and a person is rewarded according to his intention. Whoever emigrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, his emigration was to Allah and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated for the sake of the world or for a woman he wished to marry, his emigration was based on that for which he emigrated."

The same principle applies to Niyyah for wudu. Without Niyyah, all the washing and wiping we do in wudu would merely be ordinary actions that cannot remove minor hadas.

Read Also: How to Perform Wudu for Females?

The Niyyah for wudu that you must memorize is:

نَوَيْتُ الْوُضُوءَ لِرَفْعِ الْحَدَثِ الْأَصْغَرِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform wudu to remove minor hadas, as an obligation, for the sake of Allah Taala.

When Do You Need to Do Wudu?

Another important aspect of wudu is understanding when you need to perform it. Wudu is not required at all times. In some cases, it is mandatory, while in others, it is recommended or considered sunnah.

In previous discussions and articles, I have explained that wudu is performed to remove minor hadas, allowing us to engage in acts of worship that require it, such as prayer, holding the Qur'an, and Tawaf. If we attempt these actions without wudu, they cannot be classified as acts of worship.

Read Also: Dua After Wudu Full

In simple terms, if you ask me, "When do you need to do wudu?", the answer is, "When you have minor hadas and you are going to perform acts of worship that require you to be in a state of wudu."

What Should You Do If You Can't Perform Wudu?

Wudu involves using water to wash and wipe various parts of the body. Therefore, water is essential for wudu. However, in some situations, you may find yourself without access to water or unable to use it due to illness, extremely cold weather, etc. If you are in such a condition, what should you do if you can't perform wudu?

If you understand the Quranic verse quoted in the previous paragraphs, you will conclude that you can perform Tayammum instead of wudu if you cannot do wudu. This explanation can also be found in the hadith below:

عَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا -- فِيْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ:…وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرۡضَىٰٓ أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ … فَقَالَ ؛ إِذَا كَانَتْ بِالرَّجُلِ الْجِرَاحَةُ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ وَالْقُرُوْحُ ، فَيَجْنُبُ ، فَيَخَافُ أَنْ يَمُوْتَ إِنِ اغْتَسَلَ ، تَيَمَّمَ . رَوَاهُ الدَّارُقُطْنِيُّ

From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma - regarding the word of Allah Azza wa Jalla, "… and if you are sick, or on a journey …" (An-Nisa' [4]; 43) —he then said, "If a man has wounds and ulcers on his body because of fighting in the way of Allah, and he is junub, fearing that he will die if he bathes, then he can perform Tayammum." This hadith is narrated by ad-Daruquthni.

Read Also: What Is the Niyyah for Wudu?

Tayammum is the act of worshiping Allah by wiping the face and hands with clean dust. You can find this explanation in the definition of Tayammum below:

التَّيَمُّمُ هُوَ : التَّعَبُّدُ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى بِقَصْدِ الصَّعِيْدِ الطَّيِّبِ لِمَسْحِ الْوَجْهِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ بِهِ

Tayammum is the act of worshiping Allah Taala by using clean earth to wipe the face and two hands.

The Niyyah for Tayammum is as follows:

نَوَيْتُ التَّيَمُّمَ لِإِسْتِبَاحَةِ الصَّلَاةِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform Tayammum to be allowed to pray, as an obligation, for the sake of Allah Taala.

Main Things That Break Wudu

The next important point regarding "Is wudu broken by picking your nose?" is an explanation of the main things that break wudu. I want you to understand these concepts now so that you can grasp the main topic of this discussion well.

Read Also: Benefits of Dua After Wudu

In general, if you read Islamic legal literature, you will find explanations indicating that there are two main categories that break wudu: minor hadas and major hadas. Please pay attention to the explanations of these two categories below to gain a better understanding.

What Is Minor Hadas?

By the way, do you know what minor hadas is? If you read some Islamic legal literature about it, you will find that minor hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) refers to one of the impure conditions of the body that can be removed by performing wudu. If someone cannot perform wudu due to valid reasons in Islam, they may perform Tayammum as an alternative.

Things That Cause Minor Hadas

The following are the things that can cause you to experience minor hadas:

1. Vomiting and nosebleeds
2. Loss of consciousness due to sleep, madness, etc.
3. Any discharge from the two private areas: the front and back
4. Touching another person's private parts (front or back) with the palm of the hand or the inside of the finger
5. Skin-to-skin contact between a man and a woman who are not mahram without a barrier

What Is Major Hadas?

Major hadas (الحَدَثُ الْأَكْبَرُ) refers to an impure condition in the body that can be removed with ghusl Janabah. If Muslims cannot perform ghusl due to valid reasons in Islam, they may perform tayammum as an alternative.

Things That Cause Major Hadas

The following are the things that can cause you to experience major hadas:

• Death (for both men and women).
• Menstrual blood ceasing (only for women).
• Postpartum blood ceasing (only for women).
• Giving birth (only for women).
• Sexual relations between husband and wife (for both men and women).
• Ejaculation (for both men and women).

Is Wudu Broken by Picking Your Nose?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now I will explain the answer to the main question of this discussion. I really hope you read the explanation carefully so that you have no more doubts about it. Of course, if you still have questions afterward, feel free to write them in the comment section. I would be happy to have a dialogue with you.

Actually, if you've understood everything I've explained above, you can already conclude the answer to this question. But if you're still unsure, don't worry! I'm here to help.

Read Also: Can You Say Niyyah for Wudu in English?

Take note! Do you see "picking your nose" listed as something that causes minor or major hadas? No, right?!

So, if you ask me, "Is wudu broken by picking your nose?" the answer is "No, picking your nose does not break wudu."

Do you have any questions? Please feel free to write them in the comment section!