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Purity is half of faith

Wudu

Your state

Not in a state of wudu

The intention, and why

إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

Voorwaar, daden worden enkel beoordeeld naar de intenties, en eenieder krijgt slechts wat hij beoogde.

al-Bukhari 1, Muslim 1907 · sahih

The intention is the difference between a habit and worship. The same water over your arms becomes ibadah through your niyyah. That is why the Prophet ﷺ opens this ummah with this principle: it is not only the deed that counts, but what you do it for. Make your niyyah, and your ordinary actions are rewarded.

How did the Prophet ﷺ do it?

  1. 1Niyyah (intention)Make the intention for wudu in your heart, for the sake of Allah. The intention is in the heart, not spoken aloud.
  2. 2BismillahBegin in the name of Allah.
  3. 3Wash the handsWash both hands up to the wrists, three times.
  4. 4Mouth and noseRinse the mouth (madmada) three times and the nose (istinshaq) three times.
  5. 5FaceWash the face three times, from hairline to chin, from ear to ear.
  6. 6Arms to the elbowsWash the right arm up to the elbow three times, then the left.
  7. 7Head and earsWipe wet hands over the head once, and wipe the ears.
  8. 8Feet to the anklesWash the right foot up to the ankle three times, then the left. Don't forget the heels.

Description of the wudu of the Prophet ﷺ - al-Bukhari 159, Muslim 226

After wudu

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ik getuig dat er geen god is dan Allah, alleen, zonder deelgenoot, en dat Mohammed Zijn dienaar en boodschapper is.

Wie dit zegt na de wudu, voor hem worden de acht poorten van het Paradijs geopend.

Muslim 234 · sahih

What breaks wudu?

Agreed upon:

  • Whatever leaves the front or back passage: urine, stool, wind.
  • Deep sleep (lying down), unconsciousness or intoxication.

Where scholars differ:

  • Touching the private parts (some scholars: it breaks wudu, others: it does not).
  • Touching the opposite sex (a difference between the madhhabs).
  • Eating camel meat (Hanbali: it breaks wudu).

Scholars differ on the disputed points. Follow your trusted scholar or madhhab; Hasanats does not give fatwas.

The reward, and the Sunnah of staying pure

مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ

Wie de wudu verricht en haar goed verricht, diens zonden verlaten zijn lichaam.

Muslim 245

لَا يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ

Niemand houdt vast aan de wudu behalve een gelovige.

Ibn Majah 277 (sahih)

أَنْتُمُ الْغُرُّ الْمُحَجَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ إِسْبَاغِ الْوُضُوءِ

Jullie zullen op de Dag der Opstanding stralende ledematen hebben door het volmaken van de wudu.

Muslim 246

The Sunnah is to stay in a state of wudu as much as you can, and to renew it. Bilal (ra) prayed two raka'at after every wudu, and the Prophet ﷺ heard his footsteps in Paradise (al-Bukhari 1149). Stay pure, and you are ready to stand before Allah at any moment.

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