Does touching one’s wife invalidate wudu?

• Hanafi

  “And from that which does not invalidate wudu is touching a woman due to what is mentioned in the books of hadith from A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), ‘The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would kiss some of his wives then pray without making wudu.”

  (Maraqi al-Falah, Section on Ten Things Which do not Invalidate Wudu)

  Answered by Shaykh Bilal Brown, Director of Fiqh Answers.

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• Maliki

  “And touching that the person takes (sexual) delight from even if it is a fingernail or hair.”

  (Mukhtasar Khalil, Section on Invalidators of Wudu)

  Answered by Shaykh Bilal Brown, Director of Fiqh Answers.

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• Shafi’i

  Allah almighty says in the Quran:

  “Or you come into contact with women and find no water” 4:43

  “The skin of a man and a woman coming into contact, it will invalidate the wudu of the toucher and the one being touched. Touching a male or female child not sexually desirable, hair, a tooth, a nail, or a relative via lineage, breastfeeding, or in-law will not invalidate wudu.”

  (Al-Mukhtasar al-Latif, Section on Invalidators of Wudu)

  Answered by Shaykh Bilal Brown, Director of Fiqh Answers.

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• Hanbali

  “The skin of a male touching a female or the skin of a female touching a male accompanied with desire, without any barrier”

  (Dalil al-Talib, Section on Invalidators of Wudu)

  Answered by Shaykh Najamuddin Khaja, Teacher at Fiqh Answers.