This is a profound, all-encompassing rule: every matter remains upon its original ruling until the opposite is established with certainty. The converse also applies: if a person is certain that a state of impurity has occurred yet doubts whether he has purified himself, he must perform wudu, for the default assumption is that the impurity remains in force and doubt does not remove it.

Dear Muslim, safeguard your state of purity for prayer and give it due attention, for no prayer is valid without purification. At the same time, beware of obsessive misgivings and of Satan’s attempts to dominate you—whispering that your wudu has been broken and casting confusion into your heart. Seek refuge in Allah from his evil, pay no heed to such whispers, and consult people of knowledge about any aspects of purification that puzzle you so that you may act with clear insight. Take care as well to keep your clothes free of filth, so that your prayer will be sound and your worship upright, for Allah says, “Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent and loves those who keep themselves pure” (Qur’an 2:222).

May Allah grant all of us beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.