Constructing a Wuḍū Spot at Home & Rulings for the Shar'ī Ma'zūr (Excused Person)

The Wuḍū Spots in Masājid

Cleaning the teeth with a Miswāk sometimes results in bleeding that dominates the spit making it impure. Unfortunately, as the Wuḍū spots in the Masājid are usually shallow, clothes and body are splashed with drops of impure spit when rinsing mouth. This is even worse in household washbasins as their hard surfaces cause more splashing.

Have a Wuḍū Spot Constructed in Your Home

People nowadays tend to do Wuḍū in washbasins at home whilst standing, which is contrary to Mustaḥab. Regretfully, people spend huge amounts of money on the construction of huge luxurious palaces but do not consider making their own little Wuḍū spot in the house. I plead to all Islamic brothers who are enthusiastic about following the Sunnaĥ; if possible, do get a Wuḍū spot made with at least one tap in your home. Make sure the water does not splash everywhere when it falls, in fact have a drain constructed to prevent impure spit from splashing on the clothes and body. A sketch of Wuḍū spot has been added at the end of this booklet and can be used as a guideline for anyone wishing to get Wuḍū spot constructed. Drops of water usually splash around the ankles whilst washing excretory organs in the toilet; therefore, one should wash the ankles afterwards as a caution.

Construction Plan for Wuḍū Spot

A household Wuḍū spot should cover an area of 40 square inches and be raised 16 inches off the ground with a 9-inch high seat (10.5 inches wide). The distance between the seat and the wall ahead should be 26 inches. The drain should not be wider than 3.5 inches. There should be a sloped surface at the front of the platform but this slope should not cause the drain to be wider than 3.5 inches. Leave slightly more space than the length of your feet for standing (approximately 11.5 inch). Cut another slope 4.5 inches wide in the centre of the foot-rests, but remember, this slope should not allow the drain to become wider than 3.5 inches. The slope should be smooth all the way down without any bumpy surface. The tap should be fitted at a height of 32 inches from the drain and it should be a mixture tap. The water will drop onto the deeper slope in the centre and will therefore make it easier for you to protect your clothes and body from being stained by blood or any other impurities, اِنْشَاءَاللّٰہُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ. With slight changes, these guidelines can also be used for Wuḍū spots in Masājid.

Ten Madanī Flowers of a Wuḍū Spot

1.     If possible, use the plan at the back of this booklet to get Wuḍū spot constructed in your home.

2.     Ignore mason's arguments and ensure slope of 2 inches in upper floor (where feet are placed) in your domestic Wuḍū spot as per given sketch.

3.     If more than one tap are to be installed, there should be a gap of 25 inches between the taps.

4.     Get a plastic nipple installed at the nozzle of the tap as per requirement.

5.     If the water header is installed outside the wall (i.e. not concealed), the seat should be made one or two inches additional farther.

6.     It is better to construct the Wuḍū spot temporarily at first. Test its perfection by performing Wuḍū and then get the finishing works done.

7.     If tiles are to be installed at Wuḍū spot / bathrooms, always use Slip Resistant Tiles to minimize fall hazard.

8.     It is even better to install four-section tiles to eliminate fall hazard.

9.     If above type of tiles are not available, end of foot area and its adjacent slope, at least 2 inch of both, should be made rounded using rough stone so that foot may be cleaned by rubbing on it.

10. When making a drain in your kitchen, bathroom, toilet, on the roof, Wuḍū spot in the Masjid or anywhere else where water may accumulate, increase the slope 1.5 times of what suggested by the mason (e.g. he says 2 inch, you order 3 inch). Mason will do say, "Don't worry, not a single drop will stay." If you got trapped in his plan, it may result in improper slope. If you would not rely upon him, اِنْشَآءَاللّٰہُعَزَّوَجَلَّ you will see the benefit as it has been observed mostly that water accumulates on several spots of flooring.

Six Rulings for those who cannot retain their Wuḍū

1.     Wuḍū is nullified by the passing of urine (even a drop), breaking wind, seepage from injury, flowing of tears from an ailing eye, flowing of water from the navel, ears, or breasts, the passing of fluid from a pimple and diarrhoea. If someone is suffering continuously from any of these ailments and he could not be able to offer Ṣalāĥ with Wuḍū during complete span from starting to ending of a Ṣalāĥ timing, he is a Shar'ī Ma'zur (lawfully exempted).

He may offer as many Ṣalāĥ as he likes with one Wuḍū during that span; his Wuḍū will not become invalid by that ailment.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 385, vol. 1, Dur-re-Mukhtār, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 553, vol. 1)

2.     The Wuḍū of a Ma'zur becomes invalid as soon as the time of Farḍ Ṣalāĥ ends. This ruling is applied when cause of exemption is found during Wuḍū or after Wuḍū. If this is not so and there is no other cause nullifying Wuḍū, then Wuḍū will not become invalid even after elapsing of time.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 386, vol. 1, Dur-re-Mukhtār, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 555, vol. 1)

After elapsing of time of a Farḍ Ṣalāĥ, Wuḍū of Ma'zur becomes invalid. For example, if someone does Wuḍū for Aşr it will become invalid as soon as the sun sets and Wuḍū done after sunrise would become invalid as soon as the time of Żuĥar Ṣalāĥ ends as till then, time of any Farḍ Ṣalāĥ had not elapsed.

3.     Once 'Uẓr has been established, that will remain valid as long as the cause is found at least once in the total span of the Ṣalāĥ. For instance, if someone experiences a constant discharge of urine droplets in full span and he does not get opportunity to make Wuḍū and offer Farḍ Ṣalāĥ, he is a Ma'zur. Now in second span, he gets the opportunity to make Wuḍū and offer prayer but still droplet leaks once or more in this second span, he is still Ma'zur. However, if a Ṣalāĥ span pasts such that not a single droplet leaks, he would not remain Ma'zur. Whenever that previous condition repeats i.e. ailment persisted within the whole span, he will again become Shar'ī Ma'zur.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 385, vol. 1)

4.     Although the Wuḍū of a Ma'zur person is not nullified by the reason which has made him Ma'zur, yet if any other Wuḍū-nullifying cause exists, Wuḍū would become invalid. For instance, someone with the 'Uẓr of breaking wind will lose his Wuḍū due to passing of urine droplet. If 'Uẓr is due to urine droplets, Wuḍū will be lost on breaking of wind.

(ibid, pp. 386)

5.     If a Ma'zur performs Wuḍū due to Ḥadaš (any act that nullifies Wuḍū) and during Wuḍū the reason of his 'Uẓr is not existing but after Wuḍū that reason found, Wuḍū will be lost (this ruling will apply when Ma'zur performs Wuḍū due to reason other than causing him Ma'zur. If he is performing Wuḍū due to his 'Uẓr, the Wuḍū will not be lost if that 'Uẓr occurs after Wuḍū). For instance, someone was Ma'zur due to loss of control on urine. He faced breaking of wind and thus performed Wuḍū. During Wuḍū urine stopped but after Wuḍū, some urine drops trickled away, Wuḍū will be lost. However if this trickling takes place during Wuḍū, the Wuḍū will remain valid.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 387, vol. 1, Dur-re-Mukhtār, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 557, vol. 1)

6.     If the 'Uẓr is such that it causes impurity of his clothes, then in case the stain caused impurity of cloth area larger than the area of a dirham (an old currency used symbolically for sizing) and he has opportunity to offer Ṣalāĥ after purifying the clothes, then it is Farḍ for him to first purify the clothes and then say Ṣalāĥ. And if he knows that while offering Ṣalāĥ, the clothes will become impure to some extent, then purification is not binding and he may offer prayers with same clothes. Even if his prayer mat becomes impure, his Ṣalāĥ will be valid.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 387, vol. 1)

(For detailed rulings regarding the Wuḍū of a Ma'zur refer to Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, Part 2)

Detailed Fiqh Rulings on Wuḍū: Blisters, Vomiting, Laughing, Sleep & Doubt

Blisters and Pimples

1.     If a blister is burst by rubbing and its fluid flowed, Wuḍū would become invalid; otherwise not.

(ibid, pp. 305)

2.     If the pimple has completely healed; just its dead skin has remained with an opening on the top and space inside, if water fills inside the skin that is pressed to take the water out; neither Wuḍū will become invalid nor that water is impure. However, if some wetness of blood etc. was present inside it, Wuḍū will become invalid and that ejected water is also impure.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 355-356, vol. 1)

If there is no flowing fluid in pimple or if itching does not cause fluid-flowing; there is just stickiness, no matter how many times clothes touch it, they will remain pure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

3.     While cleaning the nose, if dried up blood came out, it would not affect the Wuḍū; however, repeating the Wuḍū is preferred.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 281, vol. 1)

When does Vomiting Nullify One's Wuḍū?

Vomiting food or water that is a mouthful invalidates Wuḍū. It is considered a mouthful when it cannot be prevented easily. This vomit is as impure as urine, so it is vital to protect the clothes and body from being stained by it.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 306, 390 etc, vol. 1)

Rulings about Laughing

1.     If an adult laughed in a Ṣalāĥ, consisting of Rukū' and Sujūd, so loudly that people in vicinity heard his laughing, his Wuḍū and Ṣalāĥ, both became invalid. If he laughed loudly such that only he listened to it, his Ṣalāĥ will become null (invalid) but there will be no effect on his Wuḍū. Smiling (without creating a sound) will not nullify Wuḍū and Ṣalāĥ.

(Marāqil Falāḥ, pp. 91)

2.     If one laughs loudly in a funeral prayer, his Ṣalāĥ will become invalid but there will be no effect on his Wuḍū.

(ibid, pp. 92)

3.     Although laughing when not offering Ṣalāĥ does not invalidate Wuḍū, renewal of Wuḍū is Mustaḥab.

(Marāqil Falāḥ, pp. 84)

Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never laughed loudly so we should attempt to revive this Sunnaĥ and avoid laughing loudly. Our beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: "Smiling is from Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ and laughing is from Satan."

(Al-Mu'jam-uş-Şaghīr, pp. 104, vol. 2)

Does Looking at a Person's Sitr Nullify Wuḍū?

Many amongst the public believe that unveiling one's own knees or Sitr (private part of body below navel up to knees) or looking at one's own or someone else's knees or Sitr nullifies Wuḍū; this is a wrong concept. However, to keep the Sitr covered is one of the manners of Wuḍū; in fact the Sitr should be covered immediately after Istinjā (excretion washing). To unveil the Sitr unnecessarily is prohibited and to unveil it before others is Ḥarām.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 309, vol. 1)

The Wuḍū Done during Ghusl is Sufficient

Once Wuḍū is done during Ghusl (ritual bath), it does not need to be repeated again. Even if one does not perform Wuḍū during Ghusl, he will be considered to have performed it because the organs of Wuḍū get washed during Ghusl. Changing clothes does not affect Wuḍū.

Blood in Saliva

1.     If there is bleeding in the mouth and the blood dominates the saliva, it will invalidate the Wuḍū; otherwise not. The blood will be considered dominant if the saliva is reddish and this saliva will be impure. If the saliva is yellowish in colour, saliva will be considered dominant over blood and therefore the Wuḍū will not become invalid and this saliva will not be considered impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 305, vol. 1)

2.     In case of blood being dominant over saliva, taking water from a cup or container by touching mouth will render the container and all its contents impure. Hence, in such a case, it is advisable to take water in hand from the cup for rinsing of mouth. Also take care against sprinkling of this impure water on clothes.

Urine and Vomit of an Infant

1.     The urine of an infant, even a one day old, is as impure as of anybody else.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 390, vol. 1)

2.     If an infant vomits a mouthful of milk, it is as impure as urine, but if the milk has not reached the stomach and has reversed from the chest, it will not be impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

Five Rulings about Uncertainty in Wuḍū

1.     If you are dubious as to whether or not you have washed a particular organ in Wuḍū and if this is the first such incident in your life, wash that organ and if you have had the same doubt occasionally, ignore it. If you have similar doubt after Wuḍū, ignore it.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

2.     If you had Wuḍū but later had doubt whether or not it has become invalid, you are in the state of Wuḍū, because doubt does not affect the Wuḍū.

(ibid, pp. 311)

3.     Repeating Wuḍū in case of Waswasaĥ (satanic whisperings) is not a caution; instead it is obedience to Satan.

(ibid)

4.     Wuḍū will remain valid until you are so sure that you can swear that your Wuḍū has nullified.

5.     If you know that any organ has been left unwashed during Wuḍū, but cannot recall which one is that, wash your left foot.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 310, vol. 1)

If Dog Touches the Body!

Clothes do not become impure if they come into contact with the body of a dog, even if it is wet. However, the saliva of dog is impure.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 395, vol. 1)

When and When not Sleeping would Nullify Wuḍū

There are two coincident conditions for the invalidation of Wuḍū due to sleep:

1.     Both buttocks not being seated firmly

2.     Sleeping in a manner that does not prevent deep sleep

If both above conditions co-exist, sleeping would nullify the Wuḍū

Following are ten positions of sleeping that do not affect Wuḍū

1.     Sitting with both buttocks seated on ground and both legs stretched out in one direction. (e.g. sitting on a chair, in a bus/train seat)

2.     Sitting with both buttocks on the ground and both shins encircled by hands; regardless of whether hands are on ground or head is rested onto the knees

3.     Sitting cross-legged, whether on ground or a bed etc.

4.     Sitting with folded legs and straight (as in Qa'daĥ)

5.     Sitting on a saddled horse or mule

6.     Sitting on the bare back of horse or mule provided it is walking uphill or on plain path

7.     Sleeping against a pillow with the buttocks firmly resting on the ground, even if he falls down on the removal of pillow

8.     Standing

9.     In Rukū' position

10. In the position defined for Sajdaĥ of men according to Sunnaĥ i.e. belly and thighs separated, arms and sides separated

Sleeping in above positions will not nullify Wuḍū. Even if one is in Ṣalāĥ, the Ṣalāĥ will not be nullified either, even if one sleeps deliberately. However, the part of Ṣalāĥ that is spent asleep must be repeated. If any act is offered partly awake and partly asleep, the part offered awake does not need to be repeated but the part offered asleep must be repeated.

Following are ten positions of sleeping that nullify Wuḍū:

1.     In a half sitting position (with the buttocks not touching the ground)

2.     Sleeping on one's back

3.     Sleeping on one's belly

4.     Sleeping on one's side

5.     Sleeping with one elbow raised

6.     Sitting down leaning to one side with one or both buttocks lifted off the ground

7.     Sitting on the bare back of an animal walking downwards

8.     Sleeping in the position of Tashaĥĥud with the stomach pressed against the thighs and both buttocks not pressed firmly

9.     Sitting with legs folded and head resting on thighs or shins

10. In the position of Sajdaĥ if it is done according to the female method (stomach pressed against the thighs, arms against sides, forearms on the ground)

Sleeping in any of these positions will nullify the Wuḍū regardless of whether or not a person is in Ṣalāĥ. However, deliberately sleeping in any of the mentioned postures will nullify the Ṣalāĥ too. If it is unintentional, only the Wuḍū will break and not the Ṣalāĥ. After completing Wuḍū, one can resume the Ṣalāĥ from where he left off (under certain conditions) but if he is unaware of the conditions he should start from the beginning.

(Fatāwā Radawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 365 to 367, vol. 1)

Rulings on What Nullifies Wuḍū: Musta'mal Water, Bleeding, Injections & Impure Fluids

An Important Ruling about Used Water

If you are without Wuḍū and your hand, fingertip, fingernail, toenail or any other part of your body that must be washed during Wuḍū comes into contact with water covering less than the surface area of 25 square yards or 225 square feet for example, water in a bucket or tub, that water will become Musta'mal (used), and it can no longer be used for Wuḍū or Ghusl, regardless of whether this was done deliberately or unintentionally. Similarly, if Ghusl is due and any unwashed part of the body comes into contact with water, this water cannot be used for Wuḍū or Ghusl. However, it doesn't matter if washed hand or washed part of body comes into contact with the water.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 333, vol. 1)

(Please study part 2 of Baĥār-e-Sharī'at for more information on Musta'mal water.)

Attention All Pān (Betel Leaves) Eaters!

A'lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْہِرَحْمَۃُالرَّحْمٰن says, "Those who are addicted to Pān know from experience that small particles of the Pān get stuck in all parts of the teeth (especially when there are gaps in the teeth) and rinsing the mouth three times or even ten times does not help in cleaning it properly. In fact, even using a toothpick or Miswāk does not help, whereas cleaning the mouth properly has been stressed greatly. It has been mentioned in numerous Aḥādīš that when a person stands to offer Ṣalāĥ, an angel places mouth on his mouth and anything he recites comes out of his mouth and enters the mouth of the angel. If, at that time, there are particles of food stuck in his teeth, the angels feel so severe distress by it that nothing else causes so severe distress to them.

Beloved Rasūl of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "When you stand at night to offer Ṣalāĥ, you should clean your teeth with a Miswāk because when you recite the Qurān an angel places his mouth on yours and anything coming out of your mouth enters the mouth of that angel."

(Shu'bul Īmān, pp. 381, vol. 2, Hadīš 2117)

There is a report narrated by Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Abū Ayyūb Anṣārī رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ in the book Kabīr written by Imām Ṭabarānī رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِتَعَالٰیعَلَیْہِ that there is nothing more troublesome for both angels than seeing their companion offering Ṣalāĥ with pieces of food stuck in his teeth.

(Mu'jam Kabīr, pp. 177, vol. 4, Hadīš 4061, Fatāwā-e-Raḍavīyyaĥ, pp. 624-625, vol. 1)

A Great Madanī Point of Taşawwuf (Sufism)

Ḥujja-tul-Islām Imām Muḥammad Ghazālī عَلَيْہِرَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِالوَالِی says, "When you pay your attention towards Ṣalāĥ after completing your Wuḍū, now imagine: 'The parts of my body that people can see are purified but standing in the court of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ without a purified heart is shameful because Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ sees hearts as well.' He further adds, "One should remember that the sanctity of the heart lies in repentance, abandoning sins and adopting nice ethics. A person who neglects the inner purity and pays attention to the outer purity only is like a person who invites a king to his house for a feast and in order to please the king he cleans, polishes and colours the outside of his house but neglects the interior. How will the king feel when he enters his house and sees filth everywhere? Will he be happy or displeased? Every wise person may understand how the king would react."

(Iḥyā-ul-'Ulūm, pp. 185, vol. 1)

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Five Rulings Regarding Bleeding from Wound

1.     Blood, pus or yellowish fluid came out, flowed and it could reach to a part of the body that is Farḍ to be washed in Wuḍū or Ghusl, Wuḍū will become invalid.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 304, vol. 1)

2.     If the blood just emerged on the surface and did not flow, for example when the skin is cut slightly with the point of a sewing pin, knife or while using a toothpick or Miswāk to clean your teeth or while biting an apple causing impression of blood on apple or if traces of blood seen on finger after inserting it into nose but not capable of flowing, Wuḍū will not be affected.

(ibid)

3.     If it flows but not onto the surface of skin that must be washed in Wuḍū or Ghusl (e.g. you have a spot in your eye that bursts but the fluid remains within the eyelids or you feel bleeding inside your ear canal but the blood stays inside), Wuḍū will not be affected.

(ibid, pp. 27)

4.     Even if the wound is quite large and the fluid is visible, Wuḍū will not become null (invalid) unless the fluid (pus/blood) flows from the wound.

(ibid)

5.     If one kept on cleaning the emerging blood from the wound and did not let it flow, then ponder whether the cleaned quantity was capable of flowing or not. If yes, Wuḍū will become invalid and otherwise, not.

(ibid)

Do Injections Nullify Wuḍū?

1.     In case of inter muscular injection, Wuḍū will become invalid provided blood comes out in such an amount that could flow.

2.     However, in case of Intravenous (IV) injection, blood is first drawn into the needle and its quantity is enough to make it capable of flow, hence it would nullify the Wuḍū.

3.     Similarly, when liquid glucose is injected into veins via a drip, the Wuḍū will no longer remain valid because in such cases blood rises into the tube in the amount that could flow. If somehow, blood does not enter the tube, Wuḍū will not be affected.

4.     Getting blood out of body through a syringe for a blood test will also nullify the Wuḍū. This blood is as impure as urine. Therefore, do not offer Ṣalāĥ with a bottle of blood in pocket.

Tears of an Ailing Eye

1.     Tears that flow out due to an infection or illness of the eyes are impure and would also nullify Wuḍū.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 310, vol. 1)

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this ruling and they mop away such tears like ordinary tears with their sleeves or clothes thus making their clothes impure.

2.     The fluid discharged from the eye of a blind man due to disease is impure and nullifies Wuḍū.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 306, vol. 1)

Pure and Impure Fluid

3.     Any fluid that is discharged from the human body but could not nullify Wuḍū is not impure. Examples are blood or pus that cannot flow, or vomit that is less than a mouthful.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 309, vol. 1)