Nose Bleeds and Wudu

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: There can be several days in a row when I clean or blow my nose I find out it is bleeding. When I clean it out with a tissue, it does appear to stop but it could be that I just miss the spot. I would like to know what process should be used to deal with this situation with respect to prayers? Also, while the nose is still bleeding, should washing the nose be avoided because it will just spread the blood around even more? How should the nose be cleaned? I wash my nose only after first removing the blood with a tissue, but this often takes 10+ tissues and 10+ minutes to get the blood to stop or even longer.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

In order for blood to invalidate one’s ablution (wudu), it needs to have exited and flowed. [`Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

As for putting one’s finger or a tissue into one’s nose and finding blood, this would not invalidate one’s ablution as long as one is reasonably sure that it has not flowed. Such is the ruling if one blows one’s nose and a clot of blood exits.

Unless the blood is actually flowing out of your nose, assume it hasn’t flowed. If it does not flow, it is not filthy. Wash your nose gently. Ignore misgivings.

See also:

[1] Nosebleed & Nullification of Ablution

[2] When Does Bleeding Nullify the Ritual Ablution?

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani