Does Laughing Out Loud Break Wudu? Understanding the Islamic Perspective

Hi again! Generally, people laugh out loud because something is very funny, and that brings happiness. I believe that all normal people have experienced this, including Muslims. However, in the context of wudu, does laughing out loud break wudu?

Whatever your reason for opening this article, I am sure you are looking for an explanation about the effect of laughing out loud on wudu. You want to know whether it can invalidate wudu or not. Don't worry! I will not disappoint you today. That's what I'm going to explain now. So, just read this article to the end!

Is Laughing Out Loud Allowed in Islam?

Hi! First of all, I will address a fundamental question about laughing out loud that you should understand well: is laughing out loud allowed in Islam? This understanding will help clarify the main topic of our discussion.

Before I answer that question (is laughing out loud allowed in Islam?), I will explain the legality of laughing in Islam: is it permitted or not? Understanding this is essential for grasping the topic at hand.

Is Laughing Allowed in Islam?

In short, I would like to say that there are different opinions about the legality of laughing in Islam. Some Islamic scholars say that it is allowed, while others believe that only smiling is permissible.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

The opinion of several Islamic law experts who support the idea that laughing is allowed is based on the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: يَضْحَكُ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى إِلَى رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتُلُ أَحَدُهُمَا الآخَرَ يَدْخُلَانِ الْجَنَّةَ، يُقَاتِلُ هَذَا فِي سَبِيْلِ اللهِ فَيُقْتَلُ، ثُمَّ يَتُوْبُ اللهُ عَلىَ الْقَاتِلِ فُيُسْلِمُ فَيُسْتَشْهَدُ

From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Allah Subhanahu wa Taala laughed at two people; the first person killed the second, yet they both entered Heaven. The first person fought in the way of Allah and was killed by the second person. Then Allah accepted the repentance of the second person (who killed the first). He converted to Islam and fought for the cause of Allah until he was killed."

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تُكْثِرُوْا الضَّحْكَ، فَإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الضَّحْكِ تُمِيْتُ الْقَلْبَ

From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Don't laugh often because it will kill your heart."

Meanwhile, the opinion of several Islamic law experts who argue that laughing is not allowed and that only smiling is permissible is illustrated by the following statement:

قَالَ الْحَسَنُ الْبَصْرِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ: ضَحْكُ الْمُؤْمِنِ غَفْلَةٌ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ

Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "The laughing of a believer is the forgetfulness of his heart."

So, is laughing allowed in Islam?

In my opinion, laughing is something that is permitted in Islam. There is no evidence in the Quran or hadith that specifically prohibits it, and this view is shared by the majority of Islamic law experts.

Now, is laughing out loud allowed in Islam?

If you read some Islamic literature regarding laughing out loud, you will find that it is generally advised against, although it is still tolerated in Islamic legal literature. However, it should be avoided.

Does Laughing Out Loud Break Wudu?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now, I will explain the answer to the question that is the main topic of this discussion. I really hope you read the explanation below carefully so that you have no more questions after reading this article. Of course, if you still have questions (or any other inquiries), feel free to write them in the comment section. I would love to engage in a dialogue with you.

To fully understand the answer to this question, you first need to know the things that can break wudu. Once you grasp that, identifying the answer will be much easier.

In short, there are five things that can break wudu:

1. Something that comes out of two private areas: the front hole (القُبُلُ) and the back hole (الدُّبُرُ).
2. Loss of consciousness due to sleep, madness, and so on.
3. Skin-to-skin contact between a man and a woman who are not mahram without a barrier.
4. Touching another person's vital organs (front or back) using the palm of the hand or the inside of the finger.
5. Vomiting and nosebleeds.

Now, do you see that laughing out loud is not listed among the five things that can break wudu as explained above? No, right? Therefore, the answer to the main question in this discussion is, “No. Laughing out loud does not break wudu.”

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