Wudu (Ablution)

Wuḍūʾ (Arabic: الوضوء‎ al-wuḍūʼ) is the Islamic procedure for wiping parts of the body, a type of ritual purification, or ablution.

121577

Feet . Shoes . Socks . Ghusl . Wudu (Ablution) . Western Society . Clothing . Salah (Prayers)

I do Ghusal every morning but Wudu is very difficult to manage in western clothes and I miss my prayers frequently. Is there any relaxation in doing Wudu by not having the feet wet? Is there any alternate by not taking off the shoes or socks?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 11 months ago

Sorry to hear you are having wudu challenges.

While many people successfully complete wudu in Western clothing, I agree that Western clothing (especially formal wear for men) is more restrictive than some other cultures' forms of clothing, and may pose some logistical challenges (such as Sleeves That Do Not Rise or Inflexible Trousers), or is in an awkward space (Work Bathroom With Colleagues Staring). I am sure many of us have had Adventures in Clothing We Cannot Do Wudu In.

(This is setting aside other issues, such as not being able to undo buttons on sleeves due to a mobility problem, which would be a different sort of issue and would need a different intervention)

So, first, some general thoughts:
* If possible, try to wear clothing that you know you can do wudu in while wearing. I know that sounds simple, just putting it out there. Sometimes you can change what you wear, and sometimes you can't.
* If you are doing wudu in the same place regularly (such as a job site), perhaps you can keep some helper items around you, such as plastic slippers, or a stool. If it is awkward to keep those in a washroom area, maybe there are other locations you can do wudu, such as on an outdoor or park bench with a water bottle?

Sock Challenges vary according to madhhab.

* Sunni - The down side of Sunni-style wudu is that you have to wash your feet. Yes, it's awkward lifting up your feet and sticking them in the sink at work. Sometimes they even have rules against it. There may be other more comfortable or more discreet ways to accomplish this. You will have to think outside the box to find what works for you.

The plus side is, many Sunnis will allow wiping over leather socks as long as one has done wudu before wearing them. So, if you are doing Sunni-style wudu, you could see if that is a possibility. As in this article: https://islamqa.info/en/answers/9640/conditions-of-wiping-over-socks

* The plus side of Shi'i-style wudu is that you only have to wipe the feet. This can be done more discreetly without hauling your feet up into the sink, and is easier to do away from running water. Overally, Shi'i-style wudu is more water-efficient. But you do still have to wipe the feet, and there is no option to wipe over leather socks.

Some time ago, they used to sell "wudu socks" for women (I think made in Iran?). Perhaps they still exist. They were socks with flaps at the toes, so that, rather than taking off the entire sock, you could just open the flap and wipe the foot from the toe area, then close the flap back up. I am not sure if such items existed for men, but you could have a look and see if such a thing exists. If not, maybe make your own or have them made, or start your own product line?

Anyway, in short, yes, you do still have to do wudu as long as you actually have water and are able to perform wudu.

If you have a physical reason why you are absolutely unable to perform regular wudu (such as a cast on your foot), or some other sort of mobility consideration, that is a different situation and you should look up your specific case in accordance with the type of fiqh you follow.

But if it is just awkward, maybe you can think of some different ways to go about doing wudu that help to meet your needs better and make life easier. After all, Allah desires ease not difficulty!

118715

Spouse . Wudu (Ablution)

Does kissing one's spouse invalidate Wudu?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

Not at all. This question has root in Shafi'ee Sunni sect who claim that touching any women invalidates the Wudhu. This claim came because of their misunderstanding of the meaning of the Quranic verse (Or you touched women and did not get water then perform Tayammum) Sura 5, verse 6. The meaning of touching is not the linguistic meaning of just touching, but it means the sexual relationship which causes the state of Janabah. This claim has come from narrations from Omar ibn Al-Khattab and Abdullah ibn Omar and other narrators. Majority of Sunni scholars and all Shia scholars refused these narrations.

Kissing one's spouse does not invalidate Wudhu.

Wassalam.

Spouse . Wudu (Ablution)

Does kissing one's spouse invalidate Wudu?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 1 year ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

No this doesn't break wudu unless it causes one to ejaculate.

May Allah grant you success

116519

Teeth . Wudu (Ablution) . Salah (Prayers)

Is the Wudhu and prayers invalid if there is thick crust or plaque on the teeth?

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

This wouldn't invalidate wudu or salah

May Allah grant you success

117514

Intention (Niyah) . Wudu (Ablution) . Salah (Prayers)

If one has done Wuzu with the intention for Wajib Namaz and does it again later while the Wuzu is still valid, does the intention need to be different?

Valid Wuzu is good for every worship as far as it is still valid. Any Wuzu performed for the sake of Allah is good for any worship.

Wassalam.

116596

Skin . Wudu (Ablution)

After performing ablution, I discovered some dry spots on my skin where the water did not reach properly. What should I do?

The doubt in the validity of Wudhu is invalid if it happens after completing the Wudhu. If you are sure that water never reached where it should reach, then you need to make it reach or redo the Wudhu.

Wassalam.

114182

Ghusl . Wudu (Ablution) . Basmalah

I used to perform Wudhu and Ghusl by saying the Bismillah first while thinking it was Wajib. Are those acts considered valid?

Although it is not Wajib to say Bismillah before Wudhu and Ghusl but saying that does not harm the validity of your Wudhu or Ghusl.

Wassalam.

115043

Wudu (Ablution)

While doing Wudu, if I break wind, should I finish my ablution and pray or do I have to repeat it from the start?

Bismillah,

Asalamu alaykom,

You would have to re-do your wudu. Any act which invalidates wudu even while you are doing it, means you start from the beginning again and re-make you intention. If however you did any of these acts during ghusl, it wouldn't invalidate ghusl, but only your wudu and therefore after ghusl, you would need to re-do your wudu when your hair and feet are dry.

May Allah grant you success

77616

Water . Wudu (Ablution)

While doing Wudu, I find it difficult to sniff water up into my nostrils as my nose and eyes react badly. So I just rinse my little finger until it is wet and then clean the inside of my nostril with it 3 times. Is that acceptable for my Wudu to be valid?

Sniffing water inside the nose is not obligatory in Wudhu but just recommended. Your Wudhu is valid with out sniffing water inside your nose.

Wassalam.

88000

Wudu (Ablution) . Salah (Prayers)

My Wudu breaks again and again and so I am unable to even perform the Fard Namaz properly. What should I do in this situation?

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

Here are some following rulings which may help you:

An individual who suffers from incontinence and cannot control himself, if it is not difficult for him to perform wodu’ every time, he should have a vessel of water next to him so that every time urine or stool is discharged from him, he immediately performs wodu ’ and continue with his salah. If it was too difficult for him to perform wodu’ every time, then he should perform one wodu’ for every salah.

Case: An individual who suffers from Incontinence must perform wodu’ for every salah, and engage in the salah immediately. However, it is not mandatory for him to perform wodu’ in order to perform a forgotten sajdah, or a forgotten tashahhud, or the Ihtiyat} salah that must be performed immediately after the salah – provided it is performed immediately after the salah and without delay.

Case: An individual who suffers from incontinence such that urine is discharged from him continually must [take the necessary measures to] prevent the urine from reaching other parts of his body while performing the salah by, say, using a cotton-filled bag. As per obligatory precaution, the bag and the urine outlet should be rendered tahhir before every salah, if this does not constitute [undue] discomfort. Similarly, he who cannot control his bowels must [take the necessary measure to] prevent his faeces from reaching other parts during salah, if it were possible, and as per obligatory precaution, he should render his anus tahir for every salah if this does not constitute discomfort for him.

Case: An individual who suffers from a condition that renders him unable to control emitting wind, should act according to the duties of one who suffers from incontinence.

Case: It is not obligatory for the individual who has recovered from one’s incontinence condition to offer qada>’ (in lieu of) prayers for those salah he had performed during his illness, if he had performed those prayers according to his duties outlined.

May Allah grant you success

113015

Man . Wife . Ghusl . Sexual . Wudu (Ablution)

When a man has intercourse with his wife, then should he only do Ghusl or do Wudu as well?

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

After a man engages in intercourse with his wife, he'll be in a state of spiritual impurity. So in order for him to be in a state of purity again, he just needs to perform the ghusl al Janaba and this will also give make him in the state wudu as well, so no need to do wudu.

If however during the ghusl or after he would do an action which would break wudu, then he would have to repeat the wudu again and not the ghusl.

May Allah grant you success

110088

Hadith . Wudu (Ablution)

Can you provide references in English of strong hadith of Prophet Mohammed's authentic way of performing Wudhu?

The main issue of difference between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims in Wudhu is the matter of wiping over the feet or washing them. Authentic evidence in Quran and Hadeeth is very clear that the Prophet (SAWA) was wiping over his feet in Wudhu. All Ahlul Bayt (AS) and pious companions (Sahabah) and Tabi'een did the same. These are some authentic Hadeeths in this regard:

1. In Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Musnad al-Asharah, Musnad Uthman, Hadeeth number 456: Uthman ibn Affan performed Wudhu by taking water in his mouth then inside his nose, then washed his face and his two arms and wiped over his head and his feet. He said then: I saw the Messenger of Allah (SAWA) performing Wudhu like this. He asked number of companions who were present: O people, is it not? They replied him: Yes.

2. In Sunan ibn Maajah, Hadeeth 453 and in Saheeh al-Targheeb WAL-Tarheeb by Al-Albani, page 208: The confirmed authentic Hadeeth (Saheeh) from Rifaa'ah ibn Raafi' saying: I heard the Prophet (SAWA) saying: No Salah is perfect from any one until he performs Wudhu as Allah has ordered: Washing his face and hands from the elbow and wiping on his head and both feet.

3. In Mussannaf ibn Abi Shaibah (who was a teacher of Bukhari), Kitab al-Tahaaraat, Hadeeth 55: Uthman ibn Affan said: I saw the Messenger of Allah performing Wudhu by taking water in his mouth and nose then washing his face and his both hands and wiping over his head and upper part of his feet.

4. In al-Mu'jam al-Kabber by Tabarani, Hadeeth 3337: Abu Malik al-Ash'ari told his people: Come together so that I pray in front of you the Salah of the Mesenger of Allah (SAWA). They gathered and witnessed him performing Wudhu by washing his mouth and nose and washing his face and his both arms and wiping over his head and his feet, then he led them in Salah of al-Dhuhr.

5. In Saheeh al-Bukhari, Hadeeth 5352: The Prophet (SAWA) performed Wudhu by washing his mouth and nose and washing his face and hands and wiping over his head and feet.

6. In Sunan Ibn Maajah , part of Al-Taharah, Hadeeth 451: Ibn Abbas said: People (ignorant masses) are washing their feet in Wudhu, but I find nothing in Quran but wiping over the feet.

7. In Mussannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah, volume 1, page 30, narrating from Ali Ibn Abi Talib : I saw the Mesenger of Allah (SAWA) wiping over his feet (in Wudhu).

8. Mussannaf Abdul Razzaq, Hadeeth 53 on Wudhu, narrating from al-Shi'bi : Jabrael came down from Allah with the order of wiping over the feet.

9. In Tafseer al-Tabari , V. 6, P. 175: Ibn Abbas said: Wudhu is two washings ( face and arms) and two wiping (over head and feet). الوضوء غسلتان ومسحتان.

10. In Tafseer al-Tabari , Hadeeth 10433: Narrating from Abi Hamza al-Hajjaj (the well known tyrant) was ordering people wash their feet in Wudhu but Anas ( the companion) said: Allah is the truthful and Al-Hajjaj is a liar, and he recited the Verse: and wipe over your head and feet.

These are just few Hadeeths to prove that the Prophet (SAWA) was always wiping on his feet in Wudhu.

Many books were written in this subject by different authors who tried to justify their own sect but among the authentic ones is the well known book named Wudhu al-Nabi وضوء النبي by Sayyed Ali al-Shahristani.

Wassalam.