Does Touching Private Parts Break Wudu? The Two Hadith and the Views

Scholars have differed on whether touching your private part breaks wudu since the time of the Companions. Imam at-Tirmidhi records that many Companions and Successors, and al-Awza'i, ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Ishaq, held that it does (Jami at-Tirmidhi 84). He also records that other Companions and Successors, the people of Kufa and Ibn al-Mubarak held that it does not (Jami at-Tirmidhi 85).

Both views rest on authentic-graded hadith, so the honest answer is: follow the school or scholar you rely on. If you have none, renewing wudu satisfies both positions.

The hadith of Busrah: wudu is required

Busrah bint Safwan reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever touches his penis, then he is not to pray until he performs wudu" (Jami at-Tirmidhi 82). At-Tirmidhi called it hasan sahih.

The best-known version comes with a short story. 'Urwah ibn az-Zubayr was with Marwan ibn al-Hakam, and they were discussing the things that require wudu. Marwan mentioned touching the penis. 'Urwah said he did not know of that, and Marwan told him that Busrah had heard the Prophet ﷺ say, "He who touches his penis should perform wudu" (Sunan Abi Dawud 181; Sunan an-Nasa'i 163). Ibn Majah records it too (Sunan Ibn Majah 479).

At-Tirmidhi quotes Muhammad, his teacher al-Bukhari, as saying that the most authentic report on this subject is the hadith of Busrah. He also quotes Abu Zur'ah as grading a similar report from Umm Habibah sahih (Jami at-Tirmidhi 84).

The hadith of Talq: wudu is not required

Talq ibn 'Ali reported that a man who looked like a Bedouin asked the Prophet ﷺ about a man who touches his penis after making wudu. He replied: "That is only a part of his body" (Sunan Abi Dawud 182).

Other versions add details:

• In an-Nasa'i's version, the question is about a man who touched his penis during the prayer, and the answer is "It is just a part of you" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 165).
• In Ibn Majah's version, the Prophet ﷺ said: "That does not require ablution, because it is a part of you" (Sunan Ibn Majah 483).

At-Tirmidhi says this hadith is the best thing narrated on the side of not requiring wudu (Jami at-Tirmidhi 85).

How the gradings compare

Because both hadith are accepted by modern graders, the difference comes down to how each school weighs and reconciles them. That is a question for the scholars of your school, not something to settle from a table.

What the checked sources do not cover

Both hadith speak about a man touching his penis. The sources checked for this article do not address:

• a woman touching her own private part
• touching through clothing or another barrier
• touching someone else's private parts, such as a parent washing a child
• touching the back passage

Schools have detailed positions on these cases. Ask a scholar of your school rather than assuming one ruling covers all of them.

Practical examples

You make wudu, then touch your private part while getting dressed. If you follow ash-Shafi'i or Ahmad, renew your wudu before praying. If you follow the view the people of Kufa held, your wudu remains. If you are unsure, renewing it is valid on both views.

You shower after making wudu. Washing yourself in the shower may involve touching your private part. If your school holds that this breaks wudu, make wudu again at the end, or make wudu after the shower. See does showering count as wudu?

You touched it by accident during prayer. An-Nasa'i's version of the hadith of Talq was about touching during prayer. Those who follow Busrah's hadith would leave the prayer, renew wudu and pray again.

If you need to renew wudu and repeat a prayer, check how much time is left on Islamful's prayer times page. For the steps of wudu, see how to perform wudu.

Related guides

• What breaks wudu?: the full list of nullifiers
• Does kissing break wudu?: another question at-Tirmidhi records a difference on
• Does laughing break wudu?: the Hanafi conditions for laughter in prayer

Sources checked on 30 October 2026. This article explains documented positions and evidence; it is not a personal fatwa. For your own situation, follow your madhab or ask a qualified scholar.