What is the ruling on the wudu' of one who falls into deep sleep?

Question:
This questioner says: We hear often that if a person sleeps while in a state of ritual purity, and he is sitting, even if it is a long sleep, his wudu' does not become invalid. How accurate is this statement, O Shaykh?

Answer:
This is not correct; this statement is not correct. Whenever one falls into a deep sleep in which his awareness is lost, whether he is sitting or lying down, his wudu' is invalidated; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith, the hadith of Safwan ibn 'Asal, in which he says (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to order us not to remove our leather socks except from major ritual impurity, but he ordered us to wipe over our leather socks, and not to remove our leather socks except from major ritual impurity, but from defecation, urination, and sleep." He used to order them to wipe, or to perform wudu' and wipe over the leather socks, in cases of defecation and sleep, and he did not distinguish between them.
Therefore, deep sleep invalidates wudu' without doubt, whether one is sitting, lying down, prostrating, or standing, because of this hadith: "but from defecation, urination, and sleep."
It is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: in several narrations, but the most authentic is the hadith of Safwan. He said: "He used to order us not to remove our leather socks except from major ritual impurity, but from defecation, urination, and sleep." Yes, he ordered them to wipe over the leather socks and not remove them, but if they were afflicted with major ritual impurity, they would remove them. However, they would wipe when performing wudu' from defecation, urination, and sleep. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.