Does wudu break if one sees his or someone else's satr?
The Query:
Does Wudu breaks if one's satr [1] intentionally or unintentionally opens or is seen, or open while descending from heights or by jumping or falling.
The Answer:
Wudu does not break in any of the mentioned circumstances. It is a superstitious belief amongst the public that wudu breaks when the satr opens or is seen. This belief is incorrect and baseless. The Ulama have included the satr in the category of the Adab (ethics) of wudu. If its exposure nullifies wudu, then it would have been included in the Fara'id (compulsions).
Notes:
[1] Satr: Those parts of the body that must be covered at all times. For males, it is from above the navel till below the knees, and for the female her entire body is to be covered excluding the face, hands up till the wrist and feet up till the ankels.
References:
Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol. 1 page 470
[ English Translation ]
Mawlana Abdul Hadi Qadri Ridawi Noori.