Question
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
I saw a hadith regarding the Prophet ﷺ making wudu after eating cottage cheese (aqit). As someone who goes to the gym and eats a lot of cottage cheese for protein, I would like to know if this means I have to make wudu when I eat it too.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in.
1. The Hadith of Abu Hurayrah
The narration about the Prophet ﷺ making wudu after eating aqit (cottage cheese) is recorded by Abu Dawud. However, the scholars judged it weak and not suitable for establishing a legal ruling. Stronger hadith prove that wudu after food is only required after camel meat.
2. Stronger Hadith Evidence
- In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ was asked:
“Shall I make wudu after eating camel meat?” He replied: “Yes.”
“Shall I make wudu after eating sheep meat?” He replied: “If you wish.” (Muslim 360) - This is the foundation: camel meat requires wudu, while all other foods do not.
3. The Four Madhhabs on Eating Aqit (Cottage Cheese)
- Hanafi: Eating or drinking does not invalidate wudu, whether cheese, mutton, or camel meat. They consider the camel meat hadith to indicate recommendation, not obligation.
- Maliki: Similar to Hanafis — eating does not break wudu. The camel meat hadith is taken as mustahabb (recommended) but not binding.
- Shafi‘i: No food invalidates wudu. The camel meat hadith is understood as mustahabb, not obligatory.
- Hanbali: They are alone in holding that eating camel meat breaks wudu, because of the explicit hadith in Sahih Muslim. But they agree that cheese, mutton, and other foods do not break wudu.
So regarding aqit (cottage cheese), all four madhhabs agree: eating it does not require wudu.
And Allah knows best.