Avoiding Wastage of Water in Wuḍū: Aḥādīš, Rulings & Practical Guidance

Seven Miscellaneous Rulings

1.     The passing of urine, stool, Wadī, Mażī, semen, worm or pebble from front or rear excretory organs of a man or woman will nullify Wuḍū.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 9, vol. 1)

2.     The passing of even a minor amount of air from the rear will nullify Wuḍū. The passing of air from the front of a man or woman will not nullify Wuḍū.

(ibid) (Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 304, vol. 1)

3.     Unconsciousness nullifies Wuḍū.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 12, vol. 1)

4.     Some people say that pronouncing the name of pig nullifies Wuḍū. This is false.

5.     If one's Wuḍū breaks due to some reason (e.g. breaking of wind) whilst he is performing it, he has to re-start Wuḍū, the organs washed earlier will be considered unwashed.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 255, vol. 1)

6.     To touch the Holy Qurān, or any Qurānic verse or its translation in any language without Wuḍū is Ḥarām.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 326, 327 etc, vol. 1)

7.     There is no harm in reciting the Qurān seeing its script without touching it or by heart without Wuḍū.

Yā Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ of Muṣṭafā صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم bestow us with the ability to perform Shar'ī Wuḍū without wastage and to remain in a state of Wuḍū at all times.

اٰمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الْاَمِيْن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Wasteful Use of Water in Wuḍū

Nowadays, many people open the taps too much when doing Wuḍū wasting a great deal of water. Even worse, some people open the tap in advance as soon as they reach the Wuḍū spot and then start rolling their sleeves up thereby causing wastage of water. The majority of people leave the tap on whilst doing Masḥ of the head. We must all fear Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ and avoid such wastage because the accountability of each drop and even minute acts will be held on the Day of Judgement. Here are four Aḥādīš warning against wastage. Read them and tremble with Allāĥ's fear:

1. Wastage at Canal

The Prophet of mankind, the peace of our heart and mind, the most generous and kind صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Sa'd رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ who was performing Wuḍū. Beloved and blessed Rasūl of Allāĥ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, "Why is this wastage (of water)?" Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Sa'd رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ replied, "Is wastage of water accountable in Wuḍū?" He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, "Yes, even if you are at a water course."

(Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 254, vol. 1, Hadīš 425)

Fatwā of A'lā Ḥaḍrat

A'lā Ḥaḍrat, Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِتَعَالٰیعَلَیْہِ comments on this Ḥadīš saying, "This Ḥadīš proves wastage of water even at a canal and wastage is disliked by Sharī'aĥ. Assertion for negation of wastage in Wuḍū is present in Ḥadīš Sharīf and negation actually desires Taḥrīm (prohibition) [i.e. commandment for prohibition of wastage in Wuḍū exists and this prohibition demands to declare it Ḥarām].

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jadīd), pp. 731, vol. 1)

إِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيْنَ ۞

'Verily, those who spend wastefully are not liked by Him (Allah).'

(Part 8, Al-An'ām, verse 141) [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)]

Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān's Commentary

The renowned Mufassir Ḥaḍrat Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِعَلَیْہِ explains verse 141 of Sūraĥ Al-An'ām mentioned by A'lā Ḥaḍrat رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِتَعَالٰیعَلَیْہِ in his Fatwā by saying, "Spending on prohibited things is a wastage, donating one's everything thereby causing poverty to his own family is also wastage, spending more than required is a wastage; that is why washing the organs of Wuḍū four times (without a Shar'ī reason) is considered a wastage."

(Nūr-ul-'Irfān, p. 232)

2. Don't Waste Water

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā 'Abdullah bin 'Umar رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُما narrates that the Exalted Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw a person performing Wuḍū and said, "Do not waste, do not waste."

(Sunan Ibn Mājah, pp. 254, vol. 1, Hadīš 424)

3. Wasteful Usage is a Satanic Act

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Anas رَضِیَ اللّٰہُتَعَالٰیعَنْہُ quotes a Ḥadīš, "There is no good in using large amount of water in Wuḍū, this act is induced by Satan."

(Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, pp. 144, vol. 9, Hadīš 26255)

4. Asking for a White Palace in Heaven?

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal رَضِیَ اللّٰہُتَعَالٰیعَنْہُ heard his son saying the following words in his supplication, "Yā Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ I beg you for the white palace on the right side of Heaven." He رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ said, "Son! Beg paradise from Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ and ask His blessing to refrain from Hell. I have heard Rasūlallāĥ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying that there will be people in this Ummaĥ who will exceed limits in Wuḍū and Du'ā."

(Sunan Abū Dāwūd, pp. 68, vol. 1, Hadīš 96)

Dear Islamic brothers! The renowned Mufassir Ḥaḍrat Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِعَلَیْہِ comments on this Ḥadīš by saying, "Exceeding limits in Du'ā refers to mentioning useless specifications like that his son did. It is better to ask for Firdaus (the greatest Heaven); as this specification is typical and not personal. Exceeding limits in Wuḍū might be in two ways: exceeding the numbers (in place of three) and exceeding the organ coverage e.g. washing the armpits up to the knees, washing the arms up to the shoulders, both these are prohibited."

(Mirāt-ul-Manājīh, pp. 293, vol. 1)

Wrongdoing / Offence

A Bedouin asked the beloved Rasūl of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم how to perform Wuḍū. Makkī Madanī Muṣṭafā صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم demonstrated by performing Wuḍū and washed each organ three times. Then, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "This is how Wuḍū is performed, anyone who increases or decreases in this has done evil and offence."

(Sunan Nasāī, pp. 31, Hadīš 140)

Learn Wuḍū in a Practical Way

Dear Islamic brothers! From this blessed Ḥadīš, we came to know that practical demonstration of Wuḍū is proven from Sunnaĥ. Following this Sunnaĥ, Muballighīn may demonstrate the method of Wuḍū to Islamic brothers washing each required organ three times without wasting water. Take strict care that no organ is washed four times. Then anyone from the learners, on his own accord, may get his Wuḍū checked by demonstrating to the Muballigh so that mistakes may be eliminated. This Madanī exercise may be accomplished in a better way in the company of devotees of the Exalted Prophet while travelling with Sunnaĥ-inspiring Madanī Qāfilaĥs of Dawat-e-Islami. You must learn correct method of Wuḍū. It is very difficult to comprehend the correct method of Wuḍū by merely reading it quite a few times; you will have to practice it again and again.