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Does touching one's wife break wudu?

Answer 1 of 3Published work 1 min read
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Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen· محمد بن صالح العثيمينSenior Scholar

Majmu' Fatawa wa Rasa'il al-Uthaymeen, vol. 11, p. 207

Merely touching one's wife — even with desire — does not break the wudu, as long as nothing is emitted. The verse "or you have touched women" (al-Ma'idah 5:6) refers to sexual intercourse, as Ibn Abbas explained. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss some of his wives and pray without renewing wudu.

Evidence

Qur'an

[Surah al-Ma'idah 5:6](/quran/5/6) — "...or you have touched women..." (interpreted by Ibn Abbas as intercourse)

Hadith

Abu Dawud 178Aisha reported the Prophet (ﷺ) kissed her and went to pray without performing wudu.

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