Do All Farts Break Wudu? Understanding the Rules in Islam

There are many explanations about farting and its effect on wudu. In several previous articles, I have also discussed many aspects of this topic. However, do all farts break wudu? I don't think there are many articles that explain this specifically. That is one of the reasons for writing this article.

Regardless of your reason for opening this article, I'm sure you are looking for an explanation about the main question in this discussion: Do all farts break wudu? I won’t disappoint you today because that’s what I’m going to explain now. So, just read this article to the end!

Is It True That Farting Breaks Wudu?

Hi! At the beginning of this discussion, I will answer a fundamental question related to the main topic: Does farting break wudu? It’s essential to understand this well today so that you have no doubts in your mind.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

If you want to know the answer to that question, I highly recommend you understand the Quranic verses and hadiths below:

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).

Pay attention to the phrase "أَوْ جَاۤءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ" (or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself) in the verse above! Defecation is something that breaks wudu because it involves the exit of waste from the back. Farts, too, are another thing that exits from the back.

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Allah does not accept the prayer of anyone from you if he has hadas (small hadas: الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) until he performs wudu." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The hadith above explains that a Muslim's prayer is invalid if he is in a state of small hadas. Farting is one of the actions that causes a Muslim to have small hadas.

Thus, if we understand the Quranic verse and hadith above, we can conclude that farting breaks wudu. These verses from the Quran and hadith form the basis of this argument.

Do All Farts Break Wudu?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now, I will explain the answer to the main question in this discussion: Do all farts break wudu? Some Muslims don’t understand this well. I’m sure you don’t want to be among them, right? So, please read the explanation below carefully.

If you want to know the answer to this main topic, I highly recommend you understand the hadith below:

وَعَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ تَمِيمٍ ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ ، أَنَّهُ شَكَا إِلَى رَسُوْلِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ الشَّىْءَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏:‏ لاَ يَنْفَتِلْ أَوْ لاَ يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا ‏‏

From ‘Abbad bin Tamim, from his uncle, it was reported that a man complained to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that he felt as if he had passed something (a fart) during his prayer (salat). The Messenger then said, “He must not move or leave until he hears a sound or detects a smell.”

A fart is the wind that comes out of the anus. The hadith explains that if a Muslim is praying and is unsure whether he has farted or not, he must verify by listening for a sound or detecting a smell. The hadith does not differentiate between big farts and small farts.

Therefore, all farting breaks wudu. The hadith above is one of the fundamental arguments.

What Should You Do After Farting in Islam?

Now, I will explain what you should do after farting in Islam. It’s important to understand this so that you know the proper actions to take after farting.

If you want to know the answer to this question, I highly recommend you understand some of the hadiths below:

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوْءَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ ، حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَظْفَارِهِ . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

From Uthman bin Affan (radliyallahu anhu), he reported, "The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'Whoever performs wudu perfectly, his sins will come out of his body, even from under his nails.'" This hadith was narrated by Muslim.

The hadith above explains one of the benefits of wudu. If a Muslim performs wudu perfectly, his minor sins will be erased.

عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوْءَ ، وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ، يَقْبَلُ بِقَلْبِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ عَلَيْهِمَا ، إِلَّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ

From Uqbah bin Amir (radliyallahu anhu), he reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "No one performs wudu perfectly and then prays two rakats with full concentration, except that Paradise is guaranteed for him."

This hadith explains another benefit of wudu. If a Muslim performs wudu perfectly and then prays a Sunnah prayer afterward, he will receive a reward from Paradise.

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ : إِنَّ أُمَّتِيْ يَأْتُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرَّا مُحَجَّلِيْنَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الْوُضُوْءِ ، فَمَنْ اِسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيْلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah (radliyallahu anhu), he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say, 'Indeed, my community will come on the Day of Judgment with bright faces and limbs due to the effects of wudu. Whoever of you can increase their brightness, let them do so.'" This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The hadith above explains another benefit of wudu. Wudu will serve as a sign that someone is a follower of the Prophet Muhammad on the Day of Judgment.

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 reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no one among you who performs wudu and 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 Messenger,' except that the eight doors of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever door he wishes." The hadith is narrated by Muslim and at-Tirmidhi. He (at-Tirmidhi) added, "O Allah, make me among those who repent and among those who are purified."

The hadith above explains the benefits of the dua after wudu. If a Muslim performs wudu perfectly and then recites the prayer as described in the hadith, the eight doors of Paradise will open for him, allowing him to enter through any door he desires.

Now, if you understand all the above hadiths, you can conclude that one action you should take after farting in Islam is to perform wudu. The reasons are as follows:

• If you fart, your wudu is broken.
• Wudu and the dua after wudu have many benefits, as explained in the hadiths above.

Is It a Sin If You Don't Do Wudu After Farting?

Are you still with me? At the end of this discussion, I will explain an important question that some Muslims may not fully understand: Is it a sin if you don’t do wudu after farting? It’s essential to understand this to have a complete grasp of the main topics we’ve discussed.

Performing wudu after farting is something that should be done. In other words, wudu is a Sunnah. In Islamic law, the definition of Sunnah is as follows:

السُّنَّةُ هِيَ مَا يُثَابُ فَاعِلُهُ وَلَا يُعَاقَبُ تَارِكُهُ

Sunnah is something that those who perform it will be rewarded, while those who do not will not be punished.

So, is it a sin if you don’t do wudu after farting? The answer is No. The reason is that performing wudu after farting is a Sunnah, not an obligation.

Do you have any questions? Please feel free to write in the comments!