Hadith Text & Reference

"Busrah bint Safwan told me that." 'Urwah sent someone to check that, and she said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned what Wudu' is done for, and said: 'Touching the penis.'"

Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 446 | Book: The Book of Ghusl and Tayammum

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes that touching the male genital organ necessitates renewal of wudu (ablution). The scholars have differed regarding whether this ruling applies to both men and women, with the majority position being that it applies specifically to touching the penis.

The wisdom behind this ruling is to maintain spiritual purity and prevent neglect of purification rituals. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of purity for prayer, and this ruling serves as a precautionary measure to ensure the validity of worship.

It should be noted that this ruling applies to intentional touching with the inner hand. Accidental contact or touching through a barrier does not nullify wudu according to most scholars.

Legal Rulings (Ahkam)

• Touching the penis invalidates wudu and requires renewal before prayer

• The majority of scholars restrict this ruling to male genitalia

• This ruling emphasizes the importance of physical purity in Islamic worship

• The hadith demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic purification laws