Factors that break wudhu

Food getting stuck in dental cavities

Q:

1. I have cavities in my tooth, and when I eat, food gets stuck. When I rinse my mouth or use miswak, it's still stuck. But when I brush my teeth, it easily comes out. Should I brush my teeth before I perform wudhu everytime I eat, or is it okay for the food to be stuck in the cavities?

2. Is it permissible to have dental fillings so that food doesn't get stuck, or is the filling regarded the same as stuck food? If it is permissible, is there any specific type which should be used as a filling? For example, the fillings come in gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

3. Sometimes, the food eaten comes back to mouth unintentionally. When this happens, does wudhu break? What about fast?

Pimples on one's scalp

Q: I have been suffering for a while from persistent acne on my scalp. It seems nearly all the pimples on my head (and there are a lot) are filled with pus and when they pop, a lot of pus and blood comes out. They are also very sensitive and tend to pop even at a slight touch or even just by themselves.

1. Must I shower every time a pimple pops or can I pray after wiping as much blood away as I can?

2. If I check to see that a popped pimple has stopped bleeding, then I shower, do I have to recheck again after the shower to see if there is blood, or can I just get out of the shower without checking again (sometimes when I am rechecking with a tissue, this make the pimple bleed again)?

3. What if I was not aware of any popped pimples before I got into the shower, do i have to check for bleeding when I am done?

4. Also, sometimes I wipe my head and see blood on tissue but I cannot locate where the bleeding pimple is on my head, in this case can I just wait a certain amount of time, assume the pimple has stopped bleeding and shower?

5. Also, I am a woman and have long, relatively thick hair and the acne on my head is making it difficult to keep, not to mention the pimples itch so much and some are quite painful. If the acne becomes even worse, am I allowed to cut or shave my hair to make my scalp easier to treat?

6. Lastly, is there an Islamic treatment I can apply to my head for something like this.

Enema

Q:

1. Does an enema make ghusal waajib?

2. Does inserting a finger into the anal passage make ghusal waajib?

3. Liquid is inserted into the colon via an enema. The liquid is held in for a prescribed time and then expelled, generally with a bowel movement. If oil is used in the enema, then it is common for small amounts of fluid to leak from the colon and anal passage out of the anus. This may continue for several hours.  Underwear and the area around the anus is generally soiled with this leaking fluid. What is the status of this fluid? Is it in the category of stool?