Excellence of Ablution

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gives his followers the glad tidings that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, will grant them a sign of virtue and honor on the Day of Resurrection that will distinguish them from other nations. When called out, they will emerge, distinct from the rest of people with their radiant faces, hands and feet. This light is from the traces of a great act of worship, i.e. ablution, which they often performed on their limbs. In that they sought Allah's pleasure and reward, hence they will have admirable reward of illumination. Abu Hurayrah recommended to extend this radiance, because washing more space of the body yields more radiance. Indeed, the ornamentation of light reaches as far as the water of ablution reaches. However, in mandatory ablution, one washes the hands up to the elbow and a little bit further, and washes the feet up to the ankles and a little bit further. It is not required to wash the upper arms and shins.

الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام لإسماعيل الأنصاري، ط1، دار الفكر، دمشق، 1381هـ. تأسيس الأحكام للنجمي، ط2، دار علماء السلف، 1414هـ. تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426هـ. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة لأحكام لابن عثيمين، ط1، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، 1426هـ. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، ط2، دار الثقافة العربية، دمشق، بيروت، مؤسسة قرطبة، 1408 هـ. شرح العمدة للسعدي، قيده عنه تلميذه: عبد الله العوهلي، تقديم: عبد الله بن عبد العزيز العقيل، تحقيق: أنس بن عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله العقيل، ط1، دار التوحيد، الرياض، 1431هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، 1423هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs about the devil and his struggle with the person who wants to get up to offer the voluntary night prayer or the Fajr prayer. When the believer goes to sleep, the devil ties three knots at his Qāfiyah, i.e., the back of his head. One knot is undone when the believer wakes up and remembers Allah Almighty without responding to the devil's whisperings. Another knot is undone when he performs ablution. Then the third knot is undone when he rises and prays, and he gets up in the morning active and in a good mood, given his happiness that Allah has guided him to obedience and rejoicing in the reward and forgiveness that Allah has promised him, along with getting rid of the devil's knots and his discouragement. Otherwise, he wakes up in the morning low-spirited, gloomy, and too indolent to offer good and righteous deeds because he is chained with the devil's shackles and far from getting close to the Most Compassionate.

1. The devil makes constant endeavors in every way to prevent one from obeying Allah Almighty, and nothing can save man from the devil except seeking help from Allah Almighty and utilizing the means of precaution and protection.
2. Remembering Allah Almighty and worshiping Him provide the soul with energy and bring forth relief in the heart. They dispel laziness and indolence and alleviate distress and hatred because they ward off the devil, who whispers all these things.
3. The believer feels happy when Allah Almighty guides him to His obedience and feels depressed when he fails to reach the degrees of excellence and perfection.
4. Heedlessness and reluctance from observing acts of obedience are from the devil's work and an attempt to make man's deeds appealing to him.
5. These three things—remembering Allah, performing ablution, and praying—drive the devil away.
6. The devil ties knots particularly at the back of the head because it is the center of powers and their domain of control. Hence, if he ties the knots in that place, he becomes capable of controlling man's spirit and casting sleep on him.
7. Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said: Mentioning the night in his statement: "Ahead of you is a long night," apparently indicates that this is peculiar to night sleep.
8. Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said: There is no particular or irreplaceable form of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) that should be recited here; rather, anything that could be referred to as Dhikr of Allah would be sufficient, including reciting the Qur’an, reading the Prophet's Hadīths, and seeking religious knowledge. However, the best way to remember Allah is clear in the Prophet's statement: Whoever wakes up disturbed during the night and says: "La ilāha illallāh wahdahu la sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadīr. Al-hamdulillāh wa subhānallāh wa la ilāha illallāh wallāhu akbar wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billāh (None has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone, and He has no partners. To Him belongs sovereignty, and to Him belongs praise, and He is Omnipotent over everything. All praise is due to Allah, glory be to Allah; there is no god but Allah; Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power nor strength except with Allah)", then says: "Allāhumma ighfirli (O Allah, forgive me)" or supplicates, his supplication will be answered, and if he performs ablution, his prayer will be accepted. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

صحيح البخاري (2/ 52) (1142). صحيح مسلم (1/ 538) (776). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 328). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 834). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (15/ 305). فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري، لأحمد العسقلاني (10/ 564). طرح التثريب في شرح التقريب، العراقي (3/ 82).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that if a person performs ablution while observing its Sunnahs and etiquettes, this will cause his sins and misdeeds to be expiated and forgiven - to the extent that his sins will come out from under the nails of his hands and feet.

1. The Hadīth urges us to be keen on learning the ablution and its Sunnahs and etiquettes and to act accordingly.
2. It highlights the merit of ablution and that it expiates minor sins. As for major sins, they require repentance.
3. For sins to come out of a person's body, he is required to perform ablution perfectly and without shortcomings, as illustrated by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
4. The expiation of sins mentioned in the Hadīth is conditional upon the avoidance of major sins and repentance therefrom. Allah Almighty says: {f you avoid the major sins[20] which are forbidden to you, We will absolve your [minor] sins.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 31]

صحيح مسلم (1/ 216) (245). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 9). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمصطفى الخِن وغيره (2/ 763). بهجة الناظرين، سليم الهلالي (2/ 247).

This Hadīth shows that ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) was performing ablution perfectly. He mentioned that he saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performing ablution in the same way as he did. He said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explained that if anyone performed ablution in that manner, Allah, the Exalted, will forgive all his previous minor sins that violated His rights and that his prayer and walking to the mosque will be rewarded with extra rewards in addition to the forgiveness of his sins. Himrān, the servant of ‘Uthmān, described the way that ‘Uthmān performed ablution. He said that ‘Uthmān called for a water vessel. He poured water into his palms and washed his hands three times. Then he put his right hand into the vessel and rinsed his mouth and nose. He then washed his face three times, his arms up to his elbows three time, wiped over his head, and finally washed his feet three times.

رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. صحيح مسلم، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين, محمد علي بن محمد البكري الصديقي الشافعي, اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا, الناشر: دار المعرفة للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، بيروت – لبنان, الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425 هـ - 2004 م. بهجة الناظرين, سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي ، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that outward purification is attained by ablution and washing up, and it is required for prayer. And saying "al-hamdulillāh" fills the Scale. This is to praise Allah and ascribe the attributes of perfection to Him. This will be weighed on the Day of Judgment and fill the Scale of deeds. Saying "subhān Allah wa al-hamdulillāh" - which exalts Allah far above all deficiencies and ascribes to Him the complete perfection that befits His majesty, along with loving and extolling Him - fills what is between the heavens and the earth. "Prayer is light" for a person within his heart, on his face, in his grave, and on the Day of Judgment. "Charity is proof" and evidence for the sincerity of a believer's faith and it sets him apart from the hypocrite, who refrains from giving charity because he does not believe in the reward promised in return for it. "Patience is radiance," by refraining from exasperation and indignation, is radiance, which is light that comes with heat and burning, like the light of the sun. This is because patience is difficult and requires self-struggle and restraining oneself from one's desires. So, a patient person continues to have light and adhere to guidance and the right path. Patience is shown in observing Allah's commands, avoiding His prohibitions, and enduring afflictions and different forms of hardships in this world. And "the Qur’an is proof either for you," by reciting and acting upon it, or "against you," for abandoning it, without application or recitation. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that all people work and go about, and they get up from their sleep and go out for their different activities. Some of them hold onto obedience to Allah and thus save themselves from Hellfire. And some others deviate from that and commit sins, which ruin them by leading them to Hellfire.

1. Purity is of two kinds: outward purity, which is attained by ablution and washing up, and inward purity, which is attained by Tawhīd (monotheism), faith, and righteous deeds.
2. It points out the significance of observing the prayer, as it is light for people in this world and on the Day of Judgment.
3. Charity is evidence of the sincerity of faith.
4. It is important for a person to act upon the Qur’an and believe in it, so that it will be proof for him, not against him.
5. If a person does not preoccupy himself with worship, he will preoccupy it with sin.
6. Everyone must work, and one either saves his soul with obedience to Allah or destroys it with sins.
7. Patience needs endurance and the pursuit of Allah's reward, and it involves hardship.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 203) (223)، شرح الأربعين لابن دقيق العيد (ص 84)، شرح الأربعين النووية للعثيمين (ص: 231)، الرياض الزكية شرح الأربعين النووية للخضير (ص 293)، فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين للعباد (ص 79)

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform ablution for every obligatory prayer, even if his ablution was not broken. This is to attain the reward and merit. It is permissible to perform more than one obligatory prayer with one ablution, so long as the ablution remains valid.

1. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform ablution upon every prayer, seeking perfection.
2. It is recommended to perform ablution for every prayer.
3. It is permissible to offer more than one prayer with one ablution.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 53) (214)، شرح ابن بطّال (1/321)، إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (1/ 285).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that outward purification is attained by ablution and washing up, and it is required for prayer. And saying "al-hamdulillāh" fills the Scale. This is to praise Allah and ascribe the attributes of perfection to Him. This will be weighed on the Day of Judgment and fill the Scale of deeds. Saying "subhān Allah wa al-hamdulillāh" - which exalts Allah far above all deficiencies and ascribes to Him the complete perfection that befits His majesty, along with loving and extolling Him - fills what is between the heavens and the earth. "Prayer is light" for a person within his heart, on his face, in his grave, and on the Day of Judgment. "Charity is proof" and evidence for the sincerity of a believer's faith and it sets him apart from the hypocrite, who refrains from giving charity because he does not believe in the reward promised in return for it. "Patience is radiance," by refraining from exasperation and indignation, is radiance, which is light that comes with heat and burning, like the light of the sun. This is because patience is difficult and requires self-struggle and restraining oneself from one's desires. So, a patient person continues to have light and adhere to guidance and the right path. Patience is shown in observing Allah's commands, avoiding His prohibitions, and enduring afflictions and different forms of hardships in this world. And "the Qur’an is proof either for you," by reciting and acting upon it, or "against you," for abandoning it, without application or recitation. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that all people work and go about, and they get up from their sleep and go out for their different activities. Some of them hold onto obedience to Allah and thus save themselves from Hellfire. And some others deviate from that and commit sins, which ruin them by leading them to Hellfire.

1. Purity is of two kinds: outward purity, which is attained by ablution and washing up, and inward purity, which is attained by Tawhīd (monotheism), faith, and righteous deeds.
2. It points out the significance of observing the prayer, as it is light for people in this world and on the Day of Judgment.
3. Charity is evidence of the sincerity of faith.
4. It is important for a person to act upon the Qur’an and believe in it, so that it will be proof for him, not against him.
5. If a person does not preoccupy himself with worship, he will preoccupy it with sin.
6. Everyone must work, and one either saves his soul with obedience to Allah or destroys it with sins.
7. Patience needs endurance and the pursuit of Allah's reward, and it involves hardship.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 203) (223). شرح الأربعين لابن دقيق العيد (ص 84). شرح الأربعين النووية للعثيمين (ص: 231). الرياض الزكية شرح الأربعين النووية للخضير (ص 293). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين للعباد (ص 79).