Question
- Does a small but consistent amount of blood in the mouth (due to teeth being removed so the gums are bleeding) nullify Wudhu?
- What should be done in this case with regards to eating and drinking as we are not supposed to swallow blood but in this case it cannot be helped?
Answer
- The Wudhu is not broken, because bleeding from other than the private parts does not nullify Wudhu. The evidence for this is the long Hadith of Jabir bin Abdullah where a Companion prayed despite bleeding after being hit with an arrow. The Prophet didn’t command him to make up his prayer, which proves that bleeding from other than the private parts does not nullify Wudhu. Jabir bin Abdullah said:
‘We proceeded in the company of the Messenger of Allah gfor the battle of Dhat ar-Riqa. One of the Muslims killed the wife of one of the unbelievers. He (the husband of the woman killed) took an oath saying: ‘I shall not rest until I kill one of the companions of Muhammad.’ He went out following the footsteps of the Prophet. The Prophet encamped at a certain place. He said: ‘Who will keep a watch on us?’ A person from the Muhajirun (Emigrants) and another from the Ansar (Helpers) responded. He said: ‘Go to the mouth of the mountain-pass.’ When they went to the mouth of the mountain-pass, the man from the Muhajirun laid down while the man from the Ansar stood praying. The man (enemy) came to them. When he saw the person he realized that he was the watchman of the Muslims. He shot him with an arrow and hit the target. But he (took the arrow out and) threw it away. He (the enemy) then shot three arrows. Then he (the Muslim) bowed and prostrated and awoke his companion. When he (the enemy) perceived that they (the Muslims) had become aware of his presence, he ran away. When the man from the Muhajirun saw the (man from the Ansar) bleeding, he asked him: Glory be to Allah! Why did you not wake me up the first time when he shot at you. He replied: ‘I was busy reciting a chapter of the Qur’an. I did not like to leave it.’
Narrated by Abu Dawud in his Sunan 198; and it is Hasan. - As for the issue of swallowing some blood being out of your control, then try your best to spit out as much blood as you can, and the blood after that which will mix with your food and drink won’t harm you, because Allah said:
‘So fear Allah to the best of your ability.’
Surah At-Taghabun 64:16