Do Eye and Nose Mucus Affect the Validity of Wudu or Ghusl?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: When I wake up in the morning, I always have some residue under my eyes and I also get this residue throughout the day which apparently is “combination of tears and sinus mucus that has seeped thru your tear ducts”. When I make wudu , I constantly check for excess residue.  Does this effect wudu?

Also, I heard that in regards to ghusl when cleaning out ones nose, one shouldn’t worry of the soft mucus, one would only have to worry about removing the hard mucus.  Is this accurate, and does it effect wudu?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

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

Yes, you can confidently assume that water has penetrated the area.

As for the solid residue, it is rarely so thick and solid such that water would not go through or around it. It would, however, remain optimal to remove it before beginning one’s ablution. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

The religion is ease. Seek knowledge and benefit, be grateful, and rejoice in the blessings of Allah.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani