Question Summary:
What are the Faraaid (compulsory acts) of wudhu? Question Detail:
I would like to know if there is such a thing as Fardh wudhu. My children were taught at Maktab that if a male is running late for his salaah with jamaat or if a person is in a position where the time for salaah is about to elapse and there is time only to make a wudhu in which the parts that are fardh to wash can be done than it would be permissible to make a fardh wudhu. Is this true or false?
Answer :
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There are 4 Fardh (compulsory) acts in wudhu:
Anything which falls within the circumference of the face from one earlobe to the other and from the tip of the forehead to the chin will have to be washed.
Washing both the arms up to the elbows. Elbows will also be included in the washing.
Performing masah of 1/4th of the head. Masah means to pass wet hands over 1/4th of the head. This should not be confused with washing. The head will not be washed. Rather, it will simply be wiped with wet hands.
Washing both the feet up to the ankles. The ankles will be included in the washing.
The above mentioned four acts of wudhu are the minimum requirement for the validity of wudhu. If any of these acts are left out, wudhu will not be valid. [1]
Apart from the Fardh acts of wudhu, there are also Sunnah and Mustahab (preferable) acts of wudhu. [2]
Making the Niyyah of wudhu
Reciting Bismillah before performing wudhu.
Starting from the right side.
Washing both the hands upto the wrists.
Rinsing the mouth thrice.
Doing Miswaak
Rinsing the nose thrice
Passing wet fingers through ones beard. This is known as Khilaal of the beard.
Passing wet fingers of the right hand through the fingers of the left hand and passing wet fingers of the left hand through the fingers of the right hand. This is known as Khilaal of the fingers.
10. Washing each limb thrice.
11. Performing Masah of the entire head once.
12. Performing Masah of the ears.
13. Wiping the nape once.
14. Washing each limb in time before the previous limb drys up.
15. Performing the acts of wudhu in sequence
Ideally, one should perform all the Fardh, Sunnah and Mustahab acts of wudhu. However, if one fears that he will miss Salah with Jama’ah or he fears that the time for Salah may expire, then he may suffice on performing the 4 Fardh acts of wudhu.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Husain Kadodia
[1] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا (القرآن 5: 6)
فان كَانَ الْمُتَوَضِّئ أَمْرَد فَعَلَيهِ ان يغسل وَجهه جَمِيعًا وان كَانَ ملتحيا فَعَلَيهِ ان يغسل مَا ظهر من وَجهه ويمر يَدَيْهِ على مَا ستره الشّعْر الى منتهي دقنه....وَأما اليدان فَعَلَيهِ ان يغسلهما فِي كل حَال إِلَى الْمرْفقين والمرفق دَاخل فِي الْغسْل فِي قَول الْفُقَهَاء....
واما الرَّأْس فَعَلَيهِ أَن يمسحه على كل حَال....وَأما الرّجلَانِ فَعَلَيهِ ان يغسلهما إِذا كَانَتَا فِي حد الْغسْل الى الْكَعْبَيْنِ والكعبان داخلان فِي الْفَرْض (النتف في الفتاوى للسغدي، ج1ص17، دار الفرقان)
(قَوْلُهُ: بِالرُّبُعِ) أَيْ رُبُعِ الرَّأْسِ (الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار)، ج1ص93، دار الفكر)
[2] الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي (1/ 15)
قال: "وسنن الطهارة: غسل اليدين قبل إدخالهما الإناء إذا استيقظ المتوضئ من نومه..... ولأن اليد آلة التطهير فتسن البداءة بتنظيفها وهذا الغسل إلى الرسغ لوقوع الكفاية به في التنظيف.
قال: " وتسمية الله تعالى في ابتداء الوضوء " لقوله ..... والأصح أنها مستحبة وإن سماها في الكتاب سنة ويسمى قبل الاستنجاء وبعده هو الصحيح.
قال: " والسواك " ..... والأصح أنه مستحب.
قال: " والمضمضة والاستننشاق " .....
وكيفيته أن يمضمض ثلاثا يأخذ لكل مرة ماء جديدا ثم يستنشق كذلك هو المحكي عن وضوئه صلى الله عليه وسلم " ومسح الأذنين " وهو سنة بماء الرأس عندنا .....
قال: " وتخليل اللحية " ..... قال: " وتخليل الأصابع .....
قال: " وتكرار الغسل إلى الثلاث " .....
قال: " ويستحب للمتوضئ أن ينوي الطهارة " فالنية في الوضوء سنة عندنا ..... " ويستوعب رأسه بالمسح " وهو سنة. .....
قال: " ويرتب الوضوء فيبدأ بما بدأ الله تعالى بذكره وبالميامن " فالترتيب في الوضوء سنة عندنا
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