Lesson Ten - Meaning & Virtues of Whudu. and Obligatory acts of Whudu.

Meaning of Whudu

The literal meaning of Whudu is to shine, beauty, excellence, cleanliness. The reason this process is named 'Whudu' is because the person who does complete whudu with sincerity, the body parts will shine in this world and hereafter. A Hadith to backup this evidence is that a person came to the prophet and asked him how will you recognize your Ummah/followers the Prophet said "from the effects of their whudu". (it will be shining).

The technical/Islamic meaning of Whudu is to use of water on particular parts of the body in a specified manner.

Meaning of Whudu - Ablution and Wadhu with a Fatah means leftover water from whudu.

Is whudu specific for this Ummah?

Whudu is not specific for this ummah as it was also prescribed for previous Ummats (the incident of Sarah) however, compared to other ummahs this Ummah has a special connection to it. Furthermore, the shining parts on the day of qiyamah is a specific for this ummah. It will be a sign of distinction from the other Ummahs. hence, it is a blessing.

Virtues for doing whudu:

Hadith: Narrated by Abu Huraira that I heard the Prophet say “Verily my ummah will be called on the day of judgement with their foreheads and limbs shining, due to the effects of whudu. Whoever has the ability from you to lenghten the whiteness (Nur) should do so through ablution ( Bukhari 136 & Musklim, 35)

Prophet visited a graveyard. The companions asked how will you recognize us on the day of judgement, the Prophet replied tell me if a person was to own a horse with white marking on the forehead and leg. If this horse was to stand among horses of a black colour ,will the horse with the white mark be recognized. they replied yes. The Prophet said, the same why my ummah will be recognized. (Explained in more detail in a hadith mentioned by Muslim, 39)

Abu Huraira narrates I heard my best friend the Prophet say on the day of judgement the light of a believer shall extend to as far as his ablution reaches. (Muslim,40 Ahmed 2/371)

Narrated by Uthman ibn Affan that the Prophet said, Whoever does whudu propely sins will fall from the body until sins will fall from the fingertips. (Muslim, 33) Another hadith mentions each body part individually, ending of the hadith is until he is clean from sins.

In conclusion, the following virtues of whudu can be derived from the Ahadith:

1) Body parts shining

2) Sins will be forgiven. what type of sins. minor sins as scholars say major sins are only forgiven through taubah. to have your sins forgiven there are conditions:

1) With sincerity

2) Complete whudu
3)Have a light

Wisdom behind Whudu:

A person would not go to the queen is a impure state so we are more obliged to stand in front of Allah is a pure state.

Meaning of obligation:

A command proven by an established text whose meaning is decisive and not open to interpretation. Person doing it will be rewarded and not doing will be punished. If this act is left out from a entire action then the entire action will be invalid. The person has to believing in it and not believing in it can result to disbelief and completely leaving it will be sinful.

How many faraidh in whudu

According to the Hanafi Madhab there are four Faraidh of Whudu, Sha'fee and Hanbali are of the view there are six and finally the Maliki Madhab are of the view there are seven Faraidh of Whudu.

*All agree on the four Faraidh that are mentioned in the Quran Ayah. A person should try and do a complete whudu in order to have his Whudu accepted by all Madhabs.

Meaning of Washing (Ghusal) :

Jamhoor (majority of the schoalrs ) say to completly get wet, which means that some water has to fall on the floor. Imam Yusuf say to get it damped and Imam Malik is of the opinion to wash and rub.

Masah on the Head

How much Masah on the head should be performed?

Hanafis say 1/4 equivalent to the palm after he places it on the head. it could be done any side of the head. Maliki & Hanbali are of the opinion the entire head and Lastly, Sha'fee say any part of head be it small or large.

Taking water from another part of the body will not be sufficient. Also, wiping over a turban, topi, head gear is not permissible except for extenuating circumstances. Similarly, women cannot wipe over scarf except if it is thin that the water can go through. If a women has henna or dye and does masah if the henna stays normal then the masah is valid however if it takes the color of the dye then it wont be valid.