It was narrated from ‘Aasim ibn Sufyan ath-Thaqafi (Rahimahullaah) that they went out for the battle of As-Salaasil, but they missed the fighting, so they kept watch. Then they went back to Mu’awiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and Abu Ayyub and ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) were with him. ‘Aasim said: “O Abu Ayyub, we missed the general mobilization, but we have been told that whoever prays in the four Masaajid (i.e. Masjid al-Haraam at Makkah, the Masjid of the Prophet at Madinah, Masjid Qubaa’, and Masjid al-Aqsa at Palestine) will be forgiven his sins.”1Aasim wanted to amend for his shortcoming in participating in the battle by performing good righteous deeds. He asked Abu Ayyub to guide him to a good deed that was equivalent to fighting in the battle. He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “O son of my brother! I will tell you of something easier than that. I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: ‘Whoever performs Wudu’ as commanded [by Allaah (Ta’ala)] and prays as commanded, he will be forgiven for his previous actions (i.e. his past sins – minor sins).’ Is it not so, O ‘Uqbah?” He said: “Yes.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh An-Nasaa’i no. 144]
Muslim reported in his Saheeh on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “No Salaat is accepted without Wudu’ (purification) and no charity from Ghulul2Ghulul is goods pilfered from the spoils of war prior to their authorized distribution..” [Muslim no. 224]
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Salaat (prayer) of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool, or wind) is not accepted till he performs (renews) the ablution.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
There are many mistakes which some people commit in their purification and Wudu’:
1 – Pronouncing the Niyyah (intention) when performing Wudu’:
Ibn Taymiyah (Rahimahullaah) said: ‘Pronouncing the Niyyah is considered deficiency in the intellect and Religion. In the Religion because it is Bid’ah, and in the intellect because it is as if one wants to eat food so he says, ‘I intend by putting my hand in this vessel to take a morsel from it, and to put it in my mouth to chew it, and swallow it to be satisfied.’ This is mere foolishness and ignorance.” [Majmoo’ Al-Fatawa 2/213]
He (Rahimahullaah) also said: “Uttering the Niyyah loudly is neither obligatory nor commendable by the consensus of the ‘Ulama of the Muslims; rather the one who utters the Niyyah loudly is an innovator and contradicts the Shari’ah (Islamic Law). If he has done that believing that it is from the Islamic law, then he is ignorant and misguided and deserves either rebuke or punishment for that.” [Majmoo’ Al-Fatawa]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never used to say in the beginning of his Wudu’, ‘I intend to lift (remove) the Hadath (state of impurity) or make Salaat (prayer) permissible’, neither he nor any of his Companions did that. It is not quoted in regard to this matter, any word, whether a correct or weak Isnaad (chain of narration).” [Zaad Al-Ma’aad]
2 – Making Du’aa (Supplicating) when washing the parts of the body in Wudu’
It has been quoted in a narration that is not affirmed from the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) which says:
Anas ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that he entered upon the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his hand was on a vessel of water. He [the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] said to me: “Come close to me O Anas! To teach you the way of Wudu’.” So, I came close. When he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) washed his hand, he said: “Bismillaah, wal-Hamdulillaah, wa laa hawl wala quwatta illah billah”; and when he washed his private parts with water, he said: “O Allaah protect my private parts and make easy my affairs“; and when he performed Wudu’ and sniffed water in his nose, he said: “O Allaah, tell me my proof and do not deprive me from the smell of Paradise….“
An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) said: “This Hadeeth is baseless.” [Talkhees Al-Khabeer]
Ibn Hibban, Imaam Adh-Dhahabi, Ibn Al-Madini, Al-Bukhaari, An-Nasaa’i and others said that ‘Abbad ibn Suhaib (one of the narrators) is one of those who are condemned with fabricated Ahadeeth and is not one of those whose statements are authentic.
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “Nothing that he uttered is quoted from him (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) except the Tasmiyah (saying Bismillaah). Every Hadeeth that mentions certain remembrance during Wudu’ referring to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is a lie and fabricated. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not say any of it, nor did he teach it to his Ummah, nor is it affirmed to him, save the Tasmiyah.” [Zaad al-Ma’aad]
The Permanent Committee of Iftaa mentioned in one of its Fatwas (5/206): “It is not affirmed that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned any Du’aa when performing Wudu’. What the public supplicate with at the time of washing every limb is Bid’ah (innovation).” [End quote]
3 – Removing dentures (artificial teeth) at every Wudu’
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in his book “Sharh Al-Mumtie” (1/240): “Is it obligatory to remove the artificial teeth if it prevents the water from reaching what is beneath it? Apparently, it is not obligatory, and this is like a ring. The ring does not have to be removed during Wudu’, rather one should move it, but this is not obligatory. This is because the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was wearing one, and it is transmitted to us that he moved it when performing Wudu’ and the ring appears to prevent water more than the teeth, especially for some people it is very difficult to remove the teeth.” [End quote]
Shaikh Ibn Jibreen (Rahimahullaah) was asked in his written Fatwa dated 9/7/1415A.H. the following question: “If one has artificial teeth, should he remove it when rinsing his mouth during Wudu’?” He answered: “I see no need to remove it, because Wudu’ passes through the sides of the mouth and cleanses the teeth and what is beneath it. It is sufficient to move the water inside the mouth even if he does not remove his artificial teeth, and Allaah knows best.” [End quote]
4 – Rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose with six handfuls of water (i.e. making a separation between rinsing the mouth and sniffing water up the nose)
This is based on a weak Hadeeth reported by Abu Dawoud.
Narrated by the grandfather of Talhah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), “I entered upon the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) while he was performing ablution, and the water was running down his face and beard to his chest. I saw him rinsing his mouth and sniffing up water separately.” [Al-Albaani said it is Da’eef (weak)]
An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) said: “The Scholars are in consensus on the weakness of this Hadeeth.” [Tahdheeb Al-Asmaa’]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said in Zaad Al-Ma’aad (1/192): “It was his (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Sunnah (way) to join rinsing the mouth and putting water in his nose and cleaning it by blowing the water out with a single handful of water.
It is reported in the Saheehain (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim) that ‘Amr Ibn Yahya narrated on the authority of his father that ‘Abdullaah ibn Zaid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) poured water on his hands from a utensil containing water and washed them and, then, with one handful of water he rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose by putting water in it and then he blew it out. He repeated it thrice. He then washed his hands…..’ till he said: ‘This was the ablution of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).’ [Al-Bukhaari no. 191]
In another narration it is mentioned, ‘He rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out with three handfuls of water.’ [Al-Bukhaari no. 186]
The separation between rinsing the mouth and washing the nose by putting water in it is never quoted in any authentic narration.” [End quote]
5 – Not performing the Wudu’ perfectly and thoroughly
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated: “We returned from Makkah to Madinah with the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and we came to some water (an oasis) on the way. At the time of ‘Asr prayer, some of the people performed Wudu’ hurriedly; and when we reached them, their heels were dry, no water had touched them. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Woe to (dry) heels, from the Fire! Make your ablution thorough.'” [Muslim no. 241a]
Muhammad ibn Ziyad narrated: I heard Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) saying as he passed by us while the people were performing ablution from a utensil containing water: “Perform ablution perfectly and thoroughly for ‘Abul-Qasim [the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] said: ‘Save your heels from the Hell-fire.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 165]
It was narrated from Jabir that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that a man performed Wudu’ and omitted a place the size of a fingernail (unwashed) on his foot. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saw that and said: “Go back and perform your Wudu’ properly“, so he went back (and performed Wudu’ well), then he prayed. [Muslim no. 243]
Imaam An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) said in his explanation of Saheeh Muslim: “These narrations indicate that whoever leaves out a very small part of his parts that should be purified, his Tahaarah (purification) is not correct and this is agreed upon (by the Scholars).” [End quote]
read part 2 of this article
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
Footnotes
- 1Aasim wanted to amend for his shortcoming in participating in the battle by performing good righteous deeds. He asked Abu Ayyub to guide him to a good deed that was equivalent to fighting in the battle.
- 2Ghulul is goods pilfered from the spoils of war prior to their authorized distribution.
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