A Description of the Ablution

Från: Umm_Amatillaah (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-12-19 06:37
Bismillaah wal hamdulillaah was salaatu was salaamu 'alaa rasoolillaah

A Description of the Ablution


AUTHOR: Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-‘Ubaylaan
SOURCE: His Book As-Salaat (pg. 13-18)
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com


As for what is related to the ablution (wudoo), then the foundation with regard to it is Allaah’s saying: “O you who believe, when you intend to perform the prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe (with wet hands) your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 6]

And also the saying of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam): “Allaah does not accept the prayer of any of you, when he is in a state of impurity, until he performs the ablution.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from the narration of Abu Hurairah]

And there is also the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam): “The key to the prayer is purification. Its tahreem[1] is the takbeer (saying Allaahu Akbar), and its tahleel[2] is the tasleem (saying as-Salaam ‘Alaikum).” [Reported by At-Tirmidhee from ‘Alee with a good chain]

Before beginning, one must make the intention for his ablution for the prayer or for whatever else ablution is legislated for. This is because ‘Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily, the actions are only based on their intentions. And indeed, every person will have what he intended.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Then he must say: “Bismillaah” (In the Name of Allaah). This is based on what An-Nasaa’ee reported with an authentic chain from Anas (radyallaahu ‘anhu) where he said: “Some of the Companions of the Prophet sought (water) to perform the ablution, so Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Does any of you have water?’ So he placed his hand in the water, while saying: ‘Perform the ablution (saying) in the Name of Allaah.’”

Thereafter, one should begin the ablution by washing his hands one time. But if he washes them more than that, this is more preferable. However, the complete number of times prescribed to wash them is three times. This washing of the hands is mustahabb (recommended) and not obligatory, so long as it does not occur when waking up in the morning after having slept at night, for in this case, washing the hands would be obligatory. This is due to the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah, recorded in the two Saheehs, in which Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “When one of you wakes up from his sleep (at night), he should not dip his hand into a vessel, until he (first) washes them three times, for indeed none of you knows where his hand spent the night.”

Then he does the Madmadah, which is when one washes his mouth by rinsing water in it, and also the Istinshaaq, which is inhaling water into the nose. Then he does the Istinthaar, which is when one blows out the water from his nose that he had inhaled.

He should perform these three acts of Madmadah, Istinshaaq and Istinthaar with one handful of water, meaning the water that he takes for doing the Madmadah should be the same water used for the Istinshaaq. This is based on the hadeeth of ‘Abdullaah bin Zayd found in Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, in which he describes the Prophet’s ablution saying: “The he would wash his mouth and nose (performing Madmadah and Istinthaar) three times, using the (same) handful he took water in.”

If one were to perform Istinshaaq one time only, that would be sufficient and his action would be valid, due to what has been authentically reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas, who narrated that: “Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) performed ablution (washing each body part) once.”

Then he must wash his face. The boundaries of the face are: from where the hair of the head begins to the chin, lengthwise, and from the right ear to the left ear, widthwise. He should wash it with one washing by which he will cover all of his face.

But if he washes it more than that, this is preferable, however the complete amount is three times. It is also recommended for him to rub his (wet) fingers through his beard, if it is thick, to the point where the water will enter below his chin palate (i.e. touch the skin). This is based on what ‘Uthmaan (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that: “The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would run his fingers through his beard.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhee and authenticated by Ibn Khuzaimah. Al-Bayhaqee has a similar narration from Anas with a good chain of narration]

Then he must wash his hands from the tips of his fingers to the end of his elbows. Some people think that washing the hands means starting from the wrists to the elbows, since they feel that they already washed their hands in the first part of the ablution. However, we say that washing the hands in the first part of the ablution is not obligatory. But as for washing them after washing the face, then this is obligatory – one’s ablution is not complete unless he washes his hands. There is nothing wrong with washing the upper arm (above the elbow), to ensure that one has washed his elbow thoroughly. This is since this has been authentically reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah that he (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) performed ablution once and washed over his upper arms. Then he informed the people that Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would perform ablution in the same manner.

He should begin by washing his right hand. Then he should wash his left hand, in the same manner he washed his right hand. Then he should wipe all of his head with water. The manner of how the head should be wiped is described in the hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from ‘Abdullaah bin Zayd (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) that: “When Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) wiped his head, he began from the front of his head, using both hands, until he reached his nape. Then he returned his hands (wiping his head) to the place from where he had begun.”

He should also wipe his ears along with his head, with the same water he uses to wipe over his head. This is due to the hadeeth of ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr, in which he said: “Then he (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) wiped over his head and then entered his two forefingers into his ears, while wiping the back of his ears with his thumbs.” [Reported by Abu Dawood and An-Nasaa’ee and its chain of narration is sound (hasan)]

Then he must wipe his feet up to (and including) the ankles. He must pass over the heels and run his fingers through his toes. This is based on what At-Tirmidhee, Abu Dawood and others reported with an authentic chain from Laqeet bin Sabarah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said that: “Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Complete the ablution and rub (water) between the fingers/toes. And exert in inhaling water in the nose, unless you are fasting.’”

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