Commentary on the Hadith concerning washing the body parts beyond the obligatory limit in Wudoo

Praise be to Allah,

 

Narrated Nu’aim Al-Mujmir (May Allah be pleased with him): [Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Aboo Hurayrah. He performed ablution and said:]. I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying “On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjaloon from the traces of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance[i] should do so (i.e., by performing ablution most perfectly)[ii].”[iii]

In another narration:

 

It was narrated from Nu’aim ibn ‘Abdullaah that he saw Aboo Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) performing Wudoo‟. He washed his face and his hands almost up to the shoulders, then he washed his feet up to the calves. Then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) say, “On the Day of Resurrection, my Ummah will come with glimmering faces and limbs because of the traces of Wudoo‟,” Aboo Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) added[iv], “so whoever among you can increase the brightness of his face, let him do so.”[v]

 

In another narration:

 

Aboo Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) added said, I heard my close friend (PBUH) say, “Adornments (in the Hereafter) will reach as far as the Wudoo‟ reached.”[vi]

 

Ikh-tilaaf [Difference of Opinion]

 

Concerning increasing one’s Ghurrah (the Brightness or Lustre of the Forehead, hands, and legs). The scholars differed concerning washing the body parts – beyond the obligatory limit – when performing ablution.

 

1. The Majority of Scholars held that it is commendable to do so, based on this hadeeth; while differing concerning the extent to which one may wash beyond the obligatory limits.

 

2. Imaam Maalik and Ahmad (in one report from him) held that this going beyond the obligatory bounds is not commendable. This is also the opinion of Shaykh al- Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim and Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Naasir as-Sa’adee. They supported their position with the following:

 

(a) Washing beyond the bounds – as an act of worship – requires proof, and the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah is not proof for such; it only indicates that there will be light or luster upon the parts of the body washed in ablution.

 

(b) This practice of Aboo Hurayrah was his own understanding from the hadeeth, and it is not proper to take his understanding here while the stronger and more likely position [concerning this matter] conflicts with his practice.

 

(c) As for the words: “Therefore, whoever can increase the luster of his forehead (and that of his hands and legs) should do so” – the correct opinion is that these words are the speech of Aboo Hurayrah: mudrijah (words added as explanation or clarification) which are not part of the actual statement of the Prophet (PBUH).

 

(d) It has not been transmitted from any one of the Sahaabah (Companions) that they shared this understanding and went beyond the obligatory bounds in the performance of ablution. Instead, Aboo Hurayrah has transmitted that he was careful not to allow anyone to see him washing in this manner due to its strangeness.

 

(e) All of those who described the ablution of the Prophet (PBUH) only mention that he washed the face and hands to the elbows and the feet to the ankles. And it is not possible that the Prophet (PBUH) would have abandoned that which was preferable every time he performed his ablution. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baaree: “I did not see this sentence [the added statement of Aboo Hurayrah] in the narration of anyone who reported this hadeeth from the Companions – and those who reported it were ten, nor from anyone who narrated it from Aboo Hurayrah except this narration of Nu‟aim.”

 

(f) The noble verse of the Qur’an which describes ablution specifies the limits of the obligatory area of washing as being up to the elbows and the ankles, and it was one of the final verses revealed.

 

“O You who believe! when You intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash Your faces, and Your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) Your heads, and (wash) Your feet up to ankles…” [Soorah Al – Al-Ma’idah’ 5:6]

 

Benefits derived from the Hadith

 

1. An affirmation of the resurrection on the day of resurrection and that which occurs in it from the reckoning and the recompense.

 

2. The excellence of this nation as they will come on the day of the resurrection having a light on their faces, arms, and feet from the traces of wudoo.

 

3. The excellence of the Wudoo.

 

4. The reward of having a light on the face, arms, and feet on the day of resurrection for doing it, and the believer’s ornament in paradise will reach where the Wudoo reaches.

 

Note:

 

The statement of Abu Hurayrah, I heard my Khaleel, “does not contradict the statement of the prophet (PBUH), “ indeed I free myself to Allah from having a Khaleel from amongst you,” because that which he freed himself from to Allah was that the prophet (PBUH) take someone as a Khaleel from the people not that someone from the people takes him as a Khaleel and that is what Abu Hurayrah meant.

 

Allah Knows Best

 

Copied from Sources:

Arousing the Intellects with the Explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam. The Book Of At-Taharaah by Allama Sheikh Salih Ibn Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him). page 38

Tayseer al-Allaam Sharh Umdatul-Ahkaam by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur – Rahmaan Aal Bassaam. Page 31

 

 

[i] The Prophet (PBUH) did not increase the area more than what is washed on the body parts while doing

ablution as Allaah ordered to be washed in the Qur’an. [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Footnote

136, p. 136]

[ii] Aboo Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no Salaat for one who does not have Wudoo‟, and there is no Wudoo‟ for one who did not mention the Name of Allaah over it (while starting).”

[Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 101, p. 79, Classed as Hasan by Haafiz Aboo

Taahir Zubayr ‘Alee Za’i] Khaalid narrated from some of the Prophet’s (PBUH) Companions that the Prophet

(PBUH) saw a person praying, but there was a dry size of a coin on the top of his foot; water had not touched it.

So the Prophet (PBUH) commanded him to repeat the Wudoo’ and the prayer. [Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume

1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 175, p. 118-119, Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr ‘Alee Za’i]

– Ed.

[iii] Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadeeth Number 136, p. 136

[iv] See Fath al-Baaree – Ed.

[v] Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 580, p. 375

[vi] The complete narration is: It was narrated that Aboo Haazim said: I was behind Aboo Hurayrah ( )

while he was performing Wudoo’ for Salaat. He washed his hand until he reached his armpit. I said to him,

„O Abu Hurayrah! What is this Wudoo‟?‟ He ( ) said, „O Banoo Farrookh, are you here? If I had known

that you were here, I would not have performed Wudoo‟ in this manner. I heard my close friend ( ) say,

“Adornments (in the Hereafter) will reach as far as the Wudoo‟ reached.” [Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1,

Book 2, Hadeeth Number 586, p. 379] – Ed.