Does Defecating Break Wudu? The Explanation You're Looking For

Defecation is one of the normal things that everyone does. It is the process of removing feces from their digestive system. There are some people who do that once a day, several times a day, once a week, and so on. Likewise, Muslims. As normal humans, they would definitely do that. The question is: does defecating break wudu?

Whatever your reason for opening this article, I'm sure you're looking for an explanation of the effect of defecation on wudu. I promise, I won't let you down today because that's what I'm going to explain now. So, you must read this article to the end!

Hadith About Defecation

Hi! Now I will explain the hadith about defecation. I want you to understand that at the beginning of this discussion so that you understand the general Islamic view on defecation.

There are many hadiths about defecation. Of course, I'm not going to explain it all now. In this article, I will only explain two of my hadiths.

The two hadiths about defecation that I mean are as follows:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا تَغَوَّطَ الرَّجُلَانِ فَلْيَتَوَارَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا عَنْ صَاحِبِهِ وَلَا يَتَحَدَّثَا فَإِنَّ اللهَ يَمْقُتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ

From Jabir radliyallahu anhu, he said, “The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, “If two people are defecating, then each of them both must close themselves so that they are not seen by their friends, and they both may not speak, because Allah hates that.” The hadith is narrated by Ahmad.

Hi! If you have understood the hadith above, you understand that the hadith explains several things as follows:

• The hadith explains one of the ethics of defecating.
• The hadith explains that defecation must be done in a closed room so that no one else can see it.

The hadith explains that a person should not speak when he defecates.

عَنْ مُعَاذٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ : اِتَّقُوْا الْمَلَاعِنِ الثَّلَاثَةِ : الْبَزَّارَ فِيْ الْمَوِارِدِ ، وَقَارِعَةِ الطَّرِيْقَ ، وَالظِّلِّ

From Mu’adz radliyallahu anhu, “You must be careful of three things that can bring cursing; people who defecate in waterways that are commonly used by people, road traffic, and shelter.”

If you understand the hadith above, you will understand that we are not allowed to defecate in running water, on ordinary roads where people pass, and in places used for rest.

Does Defecating Break Wudu?

Now I will explain the main topic in this discussion: does defecating break wudu? I want you to understand the explanation below well so that there are no more questions about it in your mind—if you still have questions, please write them in the comment column.

Before I explain the answer to that question, first I want to briefly explain the things that can break wudu. You have to understand all of that so you can understand the answer to the question very well.

If we read some Islamic legal literature regarding wudu, we will find an explanation that there are six things that can break wudu. The five things I mean are as follows:

• Something that comes out of two private ports: front and rear ports.
• Loss of consciousness due to sleep, madness, and so on.
• If the skin of a man and a woman who is not a mahram touches without a barrier.
• Touching other people's vital organs (front or back) using the palm of the hand or the inside of the finger.
• Vomiting and nosebleeds.

Hi! Are you still with me? I want you to pay attention to six things that can break wudu as I explained above. In the first point it is explained that anything that comes out of the two private holes, either the front or back holes can break wudu. In general, something that comes out of these two private holes is urine, feces, and farts.

So, if you ask me, “Does defecating break wudu?”, the answer is “Yes. Defecation breaks wudu because feces is one of the things that comes out of the back hole.”

Below is a verse of the Quran which explains that a person who has defecated has small bowel movements. He must perform wudu first before performing the prayer. The meaning is that defecation breaks wudu.

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكٰرٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوْا مَا تَقُوْلُوْنَ وَلَا جُنُبًا اِلَّا عَابِرِيْ سَبِيْلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُوْا ۗوَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَاۤءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاۤءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُوْرًا

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).

Sunnah After Defecation and Hadith About It that You Must Understand

Now I will explain the last thing you should understand: sunnah after defecation and hadith about it. I want you to understand that at the end of this discussion so you understand what you should do after you have a bowel movement.

In the previous few paragraphs, I have explained that defecation can break wudu. In Islam, Muslims are always encouraged to always have wudu. Why?

In Islam, if Muslims have performed wudu, they will always be in a state of purity before their wudu is broken. In addition, if they say certain prayers after their wudu, they will receive enormous rewards. The eight doors of Heaven will be opened for them. They may enter Heaven through any door they wish. Pay attention to the hadith below!

عَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ :مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ  يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوْءَ ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُ : أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ . أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَزَادَ : اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ 

From Umar radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah alaihi wa sallam said, "It is not one of you who performs wudu then perfects it, then says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, "except the eight doors of Heaven have been opened for him. He can enter any door he wants." The hadith is narrated by Muslim and at-Tirmidhi. He (at-Tirmidhi) added another editor, "O Allah, make me among those who repent and make me including those who are cleansed."

So, do you know what the sunnah is after defecating? The answer is “Wudu”. Yep! Wudu is sunnah after defecating. Muslims are highly recommended to perform wudu because they will get a very large reward if they have performed wudu.

You have a question? Please write in the comment column!