Ablution or 'Wudu'

[Zainab_M]

 




Ablution or performing the 'wudu' (washing with water) is one of the aspects clearly conveyed to us in the Noble Quraan.  The Almighty Allah says:

"O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks."  (5:6)  Surah Al-Maidah.

It's so simple and easy.  Compared to this, think of the variety of formalities with which the jurists instruct us to perform 'wudu' today. 

In my opinion, all what's important is to make a 'niyah' (that is, an intent to wash for the purpose of prayers), recite a nice supplication if you please, and then go ahead and wash just the way it's mentioned in Verse 5:6.

Even though I observe the usual practice of washing thrice during ablution, frankly, when I think of it, I realize that washing properly once would be just as good .. and isn't that what the Quran refers to?   If washing thrice or five times was a part of ablution (as the jurists  instruct), wouldn't Allah mention it in His Final Message which is perfected and complete?

"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam."  (5:3) Al-Maidah.


Mark the words, "perfected" and "completed."   There is NOTHING lacking or left out in the Noble Quran.  We simply need to follow it the way The Almighty has ordered.

It just struck me to bring up this point, however, the innovations regarding ablution is just a drop in the ocean of the 'tradition of inventions.'

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Alhumdulilah.  Very important point to mention.   The Noble Quran has described wudu very simply, and has also given the option of tayamum in extraordinary situations.  It's mostly for times when water is unavailable, but can also be done during illnesses, old age frailty and certain other emergencies.

I know an elderly sister  (mom's friend) who is very pious and always offers her five salat meticulously.  She has multiple health problems and takes several different medications.  One of the medications she takes is for her diabetic condition.  It's after-effect requires  frequent passing urine to empty the bladder.  Very often she has to go to the washroom every ten minutes.  When she's offering a lengthy salah e.g. Isha salah or offering nafl rakahs after Isha particularly in Ramadan, she has to use the washroom in between salah.  Each time she finishes a four rakah prayer or even after finishing three rakah witr, she has to go to the washroom.  Certainly she does her regular wudu with water before beginning the salah.  After that, because of these frequent washroom visits unavoidable due to the nature of her illness, she renews her wudu with tayamum. Of course she does her basic washing every time after using the toilet, but instead of performing the entire wudu by washing the face, hands and feet each time after using the washroom, she performs tayamum.  Some unthinking traditionalists among her family friends focused on unauthentic information on Islam told her it's not enough that she should do her full wudu, without using their common sense and pondering on the fact that Allah has said He has placed no difficulties in religion.

"He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship;"  (22:78).

Poor sister, she was very worried.  But we reminded her of this Verse and told her she was doing fine and not to listen to those ignorant ones.   Allah is the Most Merciful.   Alhumdulilah.

[Zainab_M]

Poor sister, she was very worried.  But we reminded her of this Verse and told her she was doing fine and not to listen to those ignorant ones.   Allah is the Most Merciful.   Alhumdulilah.

Alhumdulilah.  Yes, she's doing it precisely the right way in her situation.  If it was me, I would have done exactly the same.  I'm glad all of you comforted her by reminding her of Verse 22:78.