Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum brother Burhan

I recently have had a minor surgery on my right foot. The doctor told me that I will bleed a little but he bandaged me up very well so there`s no blood to be seen on the outside of my bandage. I know that your wudhu breaks when you bleed even a very small drop of blood. I wanted to know whether I can still read namaz (salah) even though i might not be bleeding at the moment (it has been 5 days since the surgery)but there might be blood underneath my bandage? Can you plz let me know as soon as possible because I do not want to miss my prayers. Thanks

Assalam Alaikum

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Answer:

Blood in bandage prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Said al-Hassan narrated that: "The Muslims still prayed even while wounded." (Related by al-Bukhari.) He also reported that "Ibn 'Umar squeezed a pimple until it bled, but he did not renew his ablution. Ibn Abi 'Uqiyy spat blood and continued his prayer. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab prayed while blood was flowing from him. 'Ibbad ibn Bishr was hit with an arrow while praying, but continued his prayers." (Related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Khuzaimah, and al-Bukhari.)

Al-Muwatta Hadith 2.52

Yahya related from Malik from Abd ar Rahman ibn al-Mujabbar that he saw Salim ibn Abdullah (r.a.) with blood running from his nose so that his fingers were all coloured red. Then he rubbed it and prayed without doing wudu.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 2.51

Yahya related that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Harmala al-Aslami said, "I saw Said ibn al-Musayyab (r.a.) with his nose bleeding and blood poured out of it so that his fingers were all red from the blood coming out of his nose, and he prayed without doing wudu."

Beloved brother, in light of the above quoted actions of the Noble companions of the Noble Prophet (saws), neither the wudu is invalidated by bleeding, nor should the one who is bleeding leave his prayers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan