Question (Q-88)
Does Wudhū become invalidated due to conjunctivitis?
Answer:
The tears that flow due to conjunctivitis invalidate Wuḍū. If one entire time of Farḍ (obligatory) Ṣalāh passes in such a way that it is not possible to perform the units (Rakʿāt) of Farḍ without the flowing of tears due to this illness then that person will be classed to be Maʿdhūr Shar ʿan (legally excused). Such a person may perform as many Salāhs during the time of Ṣalāh as he wishes. During the timespan of Ṣalāh, this person’s Wuḍū will not be invalidated due to the flowing of tears as a result of this illness. When the time of Ṣalāh finishes, the Wuḍū of this Maʿdhūr person (legally excused) will be invalidated due to the flowing of tears caused by conjunctivitis and thus he will have to perform Wuḍū again.
It is stated in Durr al-Mukhtār,
فدمع من بعينه رمد أو عمش ناقض
“So the tears of the one who has conjunctivitis or an eye disease invalidates Wuḍū.” (Durr al-Mukhtār with Radd al- Muḥtār, Volume 1, Page 306)
It is stated in Al-Fatāwā al-Riḍwiyyah, Volume 1, Page 349,
“Ruling: Wuḍū is invalidated by the tears that flow due to infection or due to the eyes dangling, the water that flows from spots and ulcers in the ears, the stomach, the navel etc. due to any illness.”
It is stated in Al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, Volume 1, Page 13,
ولو كان في عينيه رمد أو عمش يسيل منهما الدموع قالوا يؤمر بالوضوء لوقت كل صلاة
“If there is conjunctivitis or disease in the eyes due to which tears flow, the Scholars state that he will be commanded to perform Wuḍū for the time of every Ṣalāh.”
It is stated in Durr al-Mukhtār,
وصاحب عذر من به سلس بول لا يمكنه إمساكه أو استطلاق بطن أو انفلات ريح أو استحاضة أو بعينه رمد أو عمش أو غرب وكذا كل ما يخرج بوجع الخ
“An excused person is the one who suffers from urinary incontinence thus does not have the ability to stop it or he has bowel movement or the escaping of wind or chronic bleeding (of females) or conjunctivitis in the eyes, disease in the eyes or a pimple. Similarly everything that leaves through pain.” “So the tears of the one who has conjunctivitis or an eye disease invalidates Wuḍū.” (Durr al-Mukhtār with Radd al- Muḥtār, Volume 1, Page 553, 554)
It is stated in Bahār-e-Sharīʿat, Volume 1, Page 385,
“Every person who suffers from such an illness that one complete time has passed without it being possible for him to do Wuḍū and perform Farḍ (essential) Ṣalāh is classed to be Maʿdhūr (legally excused). Such a person is given the ruling to perform Wuḍū within the time and to perform as much Ṣalāh as he wishes before the end of the Ṣalāh time with that Wuḍū – his Wuḍū will not be invalidated due to this illness.”
It is stated in Nūr al-Īḍāḥ,
وتتوضأ المستحاضة ومن به عذر كسلس بول واستطلاق بطن لوقت كل فرض ويصلون به ما شاءوا من الفرائض والنوافل ويبطل وضوء المعذورين بخروج الوقت فقط ولا يصير معذورا حتى يستوعبه العذر وقتا كاملا ليس فيه انقطاع بقدر الوضوء والصلاةوهذا شرط ثبوته وشرط دوامه وجوده كل وقت بعد ذلك ولو مرة
“The woman who suffers from chronic bleeding and the one who has an excuse e.g. urinary incontinence and bowel movements will perform Wuḍū for the time of every Farḍ (essential) Ṣalāh. They may perform any Ṣalāh they wish with this Wuḍū from the essential (Al-Farā’iḍ) and voluntary prayers (Al-Nawāfil). The Wuḍū of those who are excused (Al-Maʿdhūrūn) is invalidated merely by the leaving of the time (of Ṣalāh). A person does not become Maʿdhūr (legally excused) unless the excuse continues throughout a complete time without any cutting off for the amount of time of Wuḍū and Ṣalāh. This is the condition for its establishment. The condition for its continuation is its presence all the time after that even if it is only once.”
And Allah knows best and His Knowledge is Complete and Sublime.
Written by: Shaykh Omar Khan (Allah preserve him)
Verified by: Mufti Shamsulhuda Khan Misbahi (May Allah preserve him)
