Does apostasy (*ridda*) invalidate ablution and invalidate *tayammum* (dry ablution)?
Chapter on What Nullifies Purification
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
Apostasy invalidates ablution and invalidates *tayammum*. This is the position of al-Awza'i and Abu Thawr. Apostasy involves uttering statements, holding beliefs, or harboring doubts that remove one from Islam. If the person returns to Islam, they must perform ablution before praying, even if they were in a state of purity before the apostasy.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa, Malik, and Shafi'i hold that apostasy does not invalidate ablution. Al-Shafi'i has two opinions regarding *tayammum*. They cite the verse stating deeds are nullified only if one dies as an apostate (Quran 2:217), and since purity is a form of worship, it should not be invalidated by apostasy like ritual bathing (*ghusl*) from sexual defilement. However, the counter-argument is that purity is an action whose validity is destroyed by disbelief, just as prayer is destroyed by disbelief, and apostasy is a form of impurity (*hadath*).