It is recommended for the one who has performed Wudu’ (Ablution) to offer two Rak’ah voluntary prayer immediately after finishing the Wudu’. This is because the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is no Muslim who performs Wudu’ and does it well (perfectly), then stands up and prays two Rak’ah in which his heart is focused as he faces the Qiblah, but Paradise will be due to him.” [Reported by Muslim]
It is also reported on the authority of ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu), that he said: “I saw the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) perform Wudu’ like this Wudu’ of mine. Then the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever performs Wudu’ like this and then performs two Rak’ah without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari, no. 160 and Muslim, no. 276]
Ibn Hajar (Rahimahullaah) said: “This Hadeeth indicates the desirability of performing two Rak’ah after performing Wudu’.” [Fat’h Al-Baari]
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated: At the time of Salaat al-Fajr (Fajr Prayer), the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked Bilal (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu), “Tell me of the most hopeful act (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding with Allaah) you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) replied: “I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I offered Salaat (prayer) after that ablution as much as was written for me.” [Al-Bukhaari, no. 1149]
When should it be performed?
It is prescribed to be offered directly after performing the Wudu’. An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) said: “It is recommended to pray following Wudu’; that act is Sunnah, and it is permissible to offer it at times when offering voluntary prayer is disallowed: at sunrise, when the sun is at its zenith, at sunset, and after the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers, because it is a Nafl (voluntary) prayer that is done for a specific reason.” [End quote from Sharh Muslim by An-Nawawi]
Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullaah) said: “It is recommended to offer two Rak’ah immediately after the Wudu’, even if it is in the prohibited times. This is also the opinion of the Shafi’ee Scholars.” [End quote from Al-Fatawa al-Kubra]
At-Tannari ash-Shafie’ (Rahimahullaah) said in ‘Nihayat az-Zain’: “By performing the Sunnah of Wudu’ (ablution) prayer soon after finishing Wudu’ and without having a long gap (between performing Wudu’ and performing Salaat), one attains the reward of one who intends to offer Tahiyyatul-Masjid. If one offers any other prayer after performing Wudu’, whether it is obligatory or voluntary, one will attain the reward (of the prayer) and the order will be dropped, as is mentioned about Tahiyyatul-Masjid.”
From the statements of the Scholars, the Sunnah prayer of Wudu’ is offered directly after finishing the Wudu’.
It is permissible to combine the prayer of Wudu’ with an obligatory prayer or a Raatibah prayer, because the reward of the deeds depends on the intention, and because the two Rak’ah of Wudu’ are not meant by themselves – it can be merged with other prayers through intention.
The Scholars of Iftaa Commitee said: “If a Muslim performed Wudu’ and entered the Masjid after the Adhaan of Dhuhr and prayed two Rak’ah with the intention of Tahiyyatul-Masjid and Sunnah prayer of Wudu’ and the Sunnah (Raatibah) of Dhuhr, it will be accepted on behalf of all three. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), who said: ‘The reward of the deeds depends on the intention, and every person will get reward according to his intention,’ except that it is required from him to offer another two Rak’ah voluntary prayer to complete the Raatibah prayer before Dhuhr prayer, because the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to maintain offering four Rak’ah (Raatibah) prayer before the Dhuhr (obligatory prayer).” [End quote of Fatawa Lajnah Da’imah]
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) was asked: “Can the Sunnah prayer be merged into one another? For example, one intends to offer the Sunnah prayer of Wudu’, so he enters it into the Sunnah of Duha.”
He (Rahimahullaah) replied: “Yes, it is permissible. This is because some Sunnah prayers are intended for the purpose of themselves, and these cannot be merged with other prayers. However, there are other Sunnah prayers where the purpose is to offer the prayer only; for example, the purpose of offering the Sunnah of Wudu’ is to offer any two Rak’ah after performing Wudu’, whether they are the Sunnah of Wudu, or the two Rak’ah of Duha, or the Raatibah of Dhuhr, or the Raatibah of Fajr, or the Sunnah between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah – as between every two Adhaan is a Salaat, or Tahiyyatul-Masjid. It is permissible for the person who enters the Masjid to pray the Raatibah (of Dhuhr, for example, or Fajr) and that will suffice him from offering Tahiyyatul-Masjid.
However, if the act of worship is meant by itself, then it cannot be merged (with another prayer by intention). Therefore, if one says, ‘I will make the Raatibah of Dhuhr – which are four Rak’ah – two Rak’ah and I will intend by them the four Rak’ah.’ We say: This is not correct. Why? Because the Sunnah prayer of Dhuhr in this case are meant for themselves, meaning they should be offered two then two Rak’ahs.” [End quote – From Liqaa’ Al-Baab Al-Maftooh]
The Shaikh (Rahimahullaah) was also asked: “Is it correct to offer the Sunnah of Wudu’ with the Sunnah of Dhuhr or the Sunnah of Maghrib?”
He (Rahimahullaah) answered: “The Sunnah of Wudu’ is that if a person performs Wudu’ perfectly and offers two Rak’ah in which his heart is not distracted, Allaah will forgive him his past sins. If it happened that the Raatibah of Dhuhr was after the Wudu’ and the person offered the Raatibah and did not allow his heart to be distracted, then it is hoped that the person is of those mentioned in the Hadeeth. As for the Raatibah of Maghrib, the possibility is far-fetched, unless we say that after offering the Maghrib prayer one invalidated his Wudu’, then renewed it and offered the two Rak’ah Raatibah of Maghrib. That is possible. Generally, though, the two Rak’ahs are after the Salaat of Maghrib and the person is usually pure.” [End quote]
In Conclusion: The two Rak’ah of the Sunnah of ablution are not intended by themselves; rather, the person who performs ablution is required to pray after his ablution. Therefore, if one starts praying the Raatibah Sunnah directly after the Wudu’, then he has prayed after having performed his ablution and will get the reward of praying after having performed ablution.
Sources:
Compilation of the Statements of the Ulamaa’
Voluntary Prayer by Sa’eed al-Qahtani
Islamqa.info
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