By Abdullahi Jamaa
A man is performing wudhuu in one of the mosques in Mombasa, he opens the tap in full gear and water gushes out strongly while he is still busy rolling up his sleeves.
About a litre of water had already been wasted before he started washing his hands. The most malign of all his faineance was not just his unabated wastefulness but his utter disregard and disobedience to essential pillars of wudhu.
After washing his hands and face he eventually poured water on his feet without washing them. He is not the only one, we all make this imprudent mistake of splashing water all around us whenever we are performing wudhuu.
It’s not a bolt from the blue that such kind of wudhuu contradicts with the spirit and letter of purification as taught by our beloved prophet (peace be upon him). It’s a total neglect of this highly held Islamic purification.
Although wasting water is the worst that we make, it’s not the only thing, but a part of a long list of blunders we usually make during this transcendent process of purification. We often rush through it in order to finish it quickly to catch up with the Imam.
Ibn-Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) said: “The First level of the one who is negligent and who wrongs his soul is the one who falls short in performing wudhuu properly”
Wudhuu is not just about washing the face, hands and feet, it is the cornerstone of spiritual purity that depends upon honesty in thought, in word and in deed. An authentic wuthuu is a characteristic of the people of paradise.
Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: “It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how will you recognize those whom you have not seen of your Ummah?’ He said: ‘From the blazes of their foreheads and feet, like horses with black and white traces (which make them distinct from others) which are the traces of ablution.'” (Ibn Majah)
The power of Bismillah
At all times Bismillah is a divine sword against Satan, we should recite it at the start of every act. This weapon will thrash the devil. When a person begins a deed by pronouncing Allah’s name, he will enjoy Allah’s support. Allah will bless his efforts and protect him from the conspiracies and temptations of Satan.
According to the majority of Scholars the opening word for a powerful wudhu is saying “Bismillah” without this they say one’s ablution is invalid. This powerful word marks both the beginning and awareness of the whole process from start to end.
With a sincere intention, the recitation of Bismillah prepares the sinew and form of the body while opening the chakras of the heart. The spiritual prowess of the words evoke a soothing sensation that seeps through the entire body and soul.
This is the best way to engage the heart, the centre-bolt of your spiritual, emotional and physical health. Undoubtedly the marvel of Bismillahi is an initial affirmation of sincere intention, alertness and the beginning of boundless Barakah .
Ali ibn Talib (RA) said, “Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahim is an effective prayer for simplifying a difficult task, and removes all grief and brings happiness in the heart.”
Bolster your wudhuu with this power-word that enlivens your spirit with excellence and hope. Starting this noble act in the name of Allah is a potent manifestation of devotion and servitude- – full submission to the will of Allah.
Wastage of water
In a 2002 research, Libyan scholar Mohamed Ben-Ghalbon estimated that the average amount of water consumed by an average Muslim in a single ablution is 10 litres.
Ben-Ghalbon who was then working on a project titled ‘Islamic Bathroom’ proposed installation of a metal pot with a capacity of 688 ml beside the ablution basin in order to minimise wastage of water during ablution.
The amount that was used by our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) for the performance of ablution is one full palms which was equivalent to approximately 0.688 Litres. Other records indicate a slightly lower evaluation of 0.54Litres but, anyhow the correct amount is less than one liter.
Wudhu is a great Ibaadah and the Prophet is reported to have said that when a person performs wudhu in the proper manner, all the (minor) sins that were committed are washed off by means of the wudhu.
In recent years It has been very conservatively estimated that at on average, most people use more than six litres of water for one wudhu.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We should realize that using a lot of water for wudhuu or ghusl is included in the words of Allah: “……And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)” Quran 6:141
Wastage of water degenerates the meticulous nature of wudhuu. It’s makrooh to waste by extravagance even if one is on the bank of a flowing river, so how about if water is drawn by mechanical means from out taps.
The final dua
Whenever you complete wudhu remember to make a sincere dua. It is a powerful supplication that is a mean of entering Jannah. Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that The Messenger of Allah) peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever performs ablution in the best manner and he says, ‘I bear witness there is no god but Allah alone, without any partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his servant and his messenger. O Allah, make me among those who repent and make me among those who purify themselves,’ then the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter through whichever he wishes.” (Tirmidhi)
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. O Allah, make me among those who turn to You in repentance, and make me among those who are purified.
The soap of wudhuu
Ablution is the key to prayer. It requires due diligence and commitment to purify oneself spiritually and physically. Blundering with it is like using the wrong key to unlock a hardened door, certainly with a poorly done wudhuu prayer becomes a blunt ritual.
Take your own time, renew your intention and compose yourself for a blissful performance of wudhuu. You are washing not just your body parts but your sins as well. Drop all the evil with a near perfect procedure.
Plague of sins burden our daily life; but we have the powerful soap of wudhu, a blessing from Allah to brighten our souls and bodies. It acts as a wonderful stimulus to restore the strength of our faith ahead of standing before the Lord of the world.
With widhuu one enters into a complete state of purity and the commencement of devotion. In this spiritual state a believer prepares his way out of sins and sorrows entering into an adorable atmosphere of tranquillity and hope.
As in the book of Ibn Majah, the Messenger of Allah said: “The key to prayer is purification, its opening is to say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and its closing is to say As-salamu ‘alaikum.”
If you can always keep wudhuu with you, if you can always renew it when you enter the mosque and if you can stay in a state of wudhuu for ever in your life. Know that it’s the bedrock of unceasing barakah: Rizq, health, success, honour and of course it’s a sure path to paradise.
