When Do Eye Fluids Invalidate Ablution?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

I have a stye or puffy eyelid, and notice some buildup in the tear duct and around the lashes, especially in the morning. If the discharge results from irritation and not actual pus, are the tears still considered impure? Do such tears break wudu?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

No. The discharge that results from mere irritation of the eye is not impure, as it is merely the natural eye fluid (tears) trying to soothe the eye.

However, if there is a clear ailment occurring, more than just mere irritation, such as swelling or other signs, then any discharge is considered impure and invalidates the ablution (wudu). [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

If this is continuous and extends for an entire prayer time, such that there is no pause where you can perform a valid wudu and prayer, then you now become someone who is legally excused regarding the eye discharge breaking your wudu. [Ibid.]

You must make a new wudu for each new prayer time, and your wudu does not break by the eye discharge (however, the ruling of the other factors that break the wudu is as normal). [Ibid.]

Please see this link for more rulings on the excused person.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.