6 – Being excessive in using water during the performance of Wudu’
Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
“And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance).” [Surat Al-An’aam 6:141]
Al-Bukhaari and Muslim reported on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that he said: “The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to take a bath with one Saa’ or up to five mudd (1 saa’ = 4 mudd) of water and he used to perform ablution with one Mudd of water.”
1 Mudd is approximately 2/3rds of a kilogram.
READ PART 1 OF THIS ARTICLE
Abu Nu’aamah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mughaffal (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) heard his son praying to Allaah, “O Allaah, I ask You for a white palace on the right of Paradise when I enter it.” He (‘Abdullaah) said: “O my son, ask Allaah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from Hell-Fire, for I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘In this Ummah (Muslim nation) there will be some people who exceed the limits in purification as well as supplication.'” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Abu Dawoud no. 96 and graded Saheeh]
“Transgression in purification is by exceeding the number of washings to more than three times, and by using water excessively and by exaggerating in washing the parts of the body to the extent of Waswaas. The Scholars are in consensus on the prohibition of using water excessively, even if one is on the shore of the sea.” [End quote – ‘Awn al-Ma’bood]
Imaam Al-Bukhaari (Rahimahullaah) said: “The Scholars disliked extravagance in Wudu’ where one goes beyond the action of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).”
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) forbade exceeding the number of washings to more than three. It was narrated from ‘Amr ibn Shu’aib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) from his father that his grandfather said: “A Bedouin came to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to ask him about Wudu’, so he showed him how to perform Wudu’, washing each part three times, then he said: “This is Wudu’. Whoever does more than that has done badly, gone to extremes, and done wrong.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan An-Nasaa’i no. 140 and graded Hasan]
7 – Thinking that the Wudu’ is not complete unless the washing of the body parts (i.e. parts which are washed in Wudu’) is performed three times
Imaam Al-Bukhaari (Rahimahullaah) mentioned in his Saheeh that Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) performed ablution by washing the body parts only once. [Al-Bukhaari no. 157]
In another narration by ‘Abdullaah ibn Zaid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) performed ablution by washing the body parts twice. [Al-Bukhaari no. 158]
He (Rahimahullaah) also reported the Hadeeth of ‘Uthmaan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in which he washed the parts thrice while performing ablution and he (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘If anyone performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two Rak’ah Salaat (prayer) during which he does not think of anything else, then his past sins will be forgiven.'” [Al-Bukhaari no. 159]
8 – Washing the wrists to the elbows instead of washing the hands also in Wudu’
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in his Fatawa (4/153): “Here we should point out something that many people neglect as they wash the forearm from the wrist to the elbow, without washing the hand (thinking that they finished washing their hands before they washed their face), but this is incorrect because the palms are included in the term hand. Accordingly, it is obligatory to wash your hands after washing your face, from the fingertips to the elbows.” [End quote]
9 – Not washing in between the fingers and toes
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Perform ablution in full and pass the fingers of one hand between the fingers of the other hand with water and sniff the water well except when you are fasting.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Abu Dawoud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasaa’i, and graded Saheeh]
Al-Mustawrid ibn Shaddad al-Fihri (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “I saw the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when he was performing Wudu’ rubbing (between) the toes of his feet with his pinky.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Abu Dawoud no. 148]
Ibn Maajah (Rahimahullaah) reported the same Hadeeth saying: “I saw the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) performing ablution and he ran his little finger between his toes.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah no. 446]
10 – Not washing the whole face properly and entirely even once
The Scholars mentioned the boundaries of the face which are to be washed during ablution. It is from the hairline (the top of the forehead) to the bottom of the jawbone lengthwise and from earlobe to earlobe crosswise. Therefore, one should be careful and be sure that the water reaches the area between the ear and hair.
11 – Not running one’s fingers through one’s beard when performing Wudu’
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “The beard is either thin or thick. The thin beard is one through which the skin is visible whilst the thick beard is that through which nothing of the skin is visible. In the case of the thin beard, both it and what is beneath it must be washed. With regards to the thick beard, the outer surface, but not the inner layer, must be washed.
Takhleel (running one’s fingers through one’s beard) is done in one of two ways:
a) By scooping a handful of water with one’s palm and putting it on the skin under the beard.
b) By taking a handful of water and running one’s fingers through the beard like a comb when doing Wudu’.
Accordingly, running one’s fingers through the thick beard is Sunnah.” [End quote – Sharh Al-Mumti’ 1/140]
read part 3 of this article
Sources:
Some mistakes in the Tahaarah and Salaat and mistakes in attending the Masaajid, compiled by ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Muhammad as-Sadhaan.
Pointing to 100 mistakes in the Taharah, by Sulyman ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-‘Eesa
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