The Limits of Ablution, Its Order and Reward
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 11
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 11
The Limits of Ablution, Its Order and Reward
20 hadiths · 8 commentaries
قَالَ زُرَارَةُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ اَلْبَاقِرِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ حَدِّ اَلْوَجْهِ اَلَّذِي يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُوَضَّأَ اَلَّذِي قَالَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ «اَلْوَجْهُ اَلَّذِي قَالَ اَللَّهُ وَ أَمَرَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِغَسْلِهِ اَلَّذِي لاَ يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَزِيدَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لاَ يَنْقُصَ مِنْهُ إِنْ زَادَ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يُؤْجَرْ وَ إِنْ نَقَصَ مِنْهُ أَثِمَ مَا دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ اَلْوُسْطَى وَ اَلْإِبْهَامُ مِنْ قُصَاصِ شَعْرِ اَلرَّأْسِ إِلَى اَلذَّقَنِ وَ مَا جَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ اَلْإِصْبَعَانِ مُسْتَدِيراً فَهُوَ مِنَ اَلْوَجْهِ وَ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اَلْوَجْهِ» فَقَالَ لَهُ اَلصُّدْغُ مِنَ اَلْوَجْهِ فَقَالَ «لاَ» قَالَ زُرَارَةُ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ رَأَيْتَ مَا أَحَاطَ بِهِ اَلشَّعْرُ فَقَالَ «كُلُّ مَا أَحَاطَ بِهِ مِنَ اَلشَّعْرِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَى اَلْعِبَادِ أَنْ يَطْلُبُوهُ وَ لاَ يَبْحَثُوا عَنْهُ وَ لَكِنْ يُجْرَى عَلَيْهِ اَلْمَاءُ.
Zurarah bin A'yan said to Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: "Inform me about the limits of the face that one should wash, as mentioned by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic." Imam عليه السلام said: "The face that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has commanded to be washed is that which no one should add to or subtract from. If someone adds to it, they will not be rewarded, and if they subtract from it, they will sin. The area includes from the hairline of the head to the chin, and what is encompassed by the thumbs (when making a circle with the fingers) is considered part of the face. Anything outside of that is not considered part of the face”. Zurarah asked: "What about the temples?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No." Zurarah then said: "What if it is surrounded by hair?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Whatever is surrounded by hair is not required for the servants to seek or look for; however, water should flow over it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 23
وَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «تَابِعْ بَيْنَ اَلْوُضُوءِ كَمَا قَالَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اِبْدَأْ بِالْوَجْهِ ثُمَّ بِالْيَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ اِمْسَحْ بِالرَّأْسِ وَ اَلرِّجْلَيْنِ وَ لاَ تُقَدِّمَنَّ شَيْئاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ شَيْءٍ تُخَالِفْ مَا أُمِرْتَ بِهِ فَإِنْ غَسَلْتَ اَلذِّرَاعَ قَبْلَ اَلْوَجْهِ فَابْدَأْ بِالْوَجْهِ وَ أَعِدْ عَلَى اَلذِّرَاعِ وَ إِنْ مَسَحْتَ اَلرِّجْلَ قَبْلَ اَلرَّأْسِ فَامْسَحْ عَلَى اَلرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ أَعِدْ عَلَى اَلرِّجْلِ اِبْدَأْ بِمَا بَدَأَ اَللَّهُ بِهِ.
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Follow the sequence of wudu as Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, has commanded. Start with the face, then the hands, then wipe the head and the feet. Do not precede anything before what you are commanded. If you wash the arm before the face, start with the face and then repeat on the arm. If you wipe the foot before the head, then wipe the head and then repeat on the foot. Begin with what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has started with." Similarly, in the adhan to Salat and the iqamah, start with the first (shahada) and then the second (shahada) and so forth. If you say: ‘Hasten to prayer (Hayya allas’Salat)’ before the testimonies, then you will again start with the testimonies and then repeat ‘Hasten to prayer.’"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ: «فِيمَنْ بَدَأَ بِغَسْلِ يَسَارِهِ قَبْلَ يَمِينِهِ أَنَّهُ يُعِيدُ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ » وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ «أَنَّهُ يُعِيدُ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ.
It has been narrated in another report: "In the case of someone who starts washing their left arm before their right, they should wash their right arm again and then wash their left arm again”. It has also been reported, "that they should wash their left arm again”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اِغْسِلْ يَدَكَ مِنَ اَلْبَوْلِ مَرَّةً وَ مِنَ اَلْغَائِطِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَ مِنَ اَلْجَنَابَةِ ثَلاَثاً.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Wash your hand after urine once, after defecation twice, and after janabah (ritual impurity) three times."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اِغْسِلْ يَدَكَ مِنَ اَلنَّوْمِ مَرَّةً.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "When you wake up from your sleep, wash your hands once”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
ومن كان وضؤوه من النوم ونسي [أن يغسل يده] فأدخل يده الماء قبل أن يغسلها فعليه أن يصب ذلك الماء ولا يستعمله فإن أدخلها في الماء من حدث البول والغائط قبل أن يغسلها ناسيا فلا بأس به. إلا أن يكون في يده قذر ينجس الماء. والوضوء مرة مرة، ومن توضأ مرتين لم يؤجر ومن توضأ ثلاثا فقد أبدع، ومن مسح باطن قدميه فقد تبع وسواس الشيطان.
He added that if someone performed wudu after sleeping and forgot to wash their hand before putting it in the water, they must pour that water out and not use it for ablution. However, if they put their hand in the water after using the bathroom (urine or defecation) before washing it while forgetting, it is permissible. This is unless there is something impure on their hand that would make the water impure. Furthermore, wudu should be performed once for each action, and whoever performs it twice will not be rewarded. If someone performs wudu three times, they have innovated, and whoever wipes the soles of their feet is following the whispers of Satan.
وَقَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «لَوْ لاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَمْسَحُ ظَاهِرَ قَدَمَيْهِ لَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ بَاطِنَهُمَا أَوْلَى بِالْمَسْحِ مِنْ ظَاهِرِهِمَا.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "If I had not seen the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم wiping over the tops of his feet, I would have thought that the soles of the feet should be wiped instead of the tops”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
ومن كان به في المواضع التي يجب عليها الوضوء قرحة أو جراحة أو دماميل ولم يؤذه حلها، فليحلها وليغسلها، وإن أضر به حلها، فليمسح يده على الجبائر والقروح ولا يحلها ولا يعبث بجراحته.
If someone has sores, wounds, or boils in the places where wudu is required, and removing them does not harm them, they should remove them and wash the affected areas. If removing them would cause harm, they should wipe over the bandages and sores without removing them or tampering with their wounds.
وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ: فِي اَلْجَبَائِرِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ «يَغْسِلُ مَا حَوْلَهَا.
It has been narrated about bandages from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "Wash that which is around them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
ولا يجوز المسح على العمامة ولا على القلنسوة ولا على الخفين والجوربين إلا في حال التقية والخيفة من العدو أو في ثلج يخاف فيه على الرجلين، تقام الخفان مقام الجبائر فيمسح عليهما.
It is not permissible to wipe over a turban (Amamah), a cap (qalansuwah), or leather socks (khuffs) and stockings (jawrab) except in cases of necessity, such as during fear of an enemy or in snow where there is a risk to the feet. The leather socks can be treated like bandages, and one can wipe over them.
وَقَالَ اَلْعَالِمُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ أَتَّقِي فِيهَا أَحَداً شُرْبُ اَلْمُسْكِرِ وَ اَلْمَسْحُ عَلَى اَلْخُفَّيْنِ وَ مُتْعَةُ اَلْحَجِّ.
The scholar, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, said: "There are three things in which I do not fear anyone (taqiyya): drinking intoxicants, wiping over the leather socks (khuffs), and the Hajj Tamattu'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَتْ عَائِشَةُ عَنِ اَلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «أَشَدُّ اَلنَّاسِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ رَأَى وُضُوءَهُ عَلَى جِلْدِ غَيْرِهِ.
Aisha narrated from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, that He said: "The people with the most regret on the Day of Resurrection will be those who sees his wudu (ablution) on the skin of someone else”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: «لَأَنْ أَمْسَحَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ عَيْرٍ بِالْفَلاَةِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَمْسَحَ عَلَى خُفِّي.
It was narrated from Aisha that The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم narrated: "I would prefer to wipe over the back of a donkey in the wilderness than to wipe over my leather socks (khuffs)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
ولم يعرف للنبي صلى الله عليه وآله خف إلا خفا أهداه له النجاشي، وكان موضع ظهر القدمين منه مشقوقا، فمسح النبي صلى الله عليه وآله على رجليه وعليه خفاه، فقال الناس: إنه مسح على خفيه على أن الحديث في ذلك غير صحيح الاسناد.
It is noted that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم did not possess any leather socks except for a pair that was gifted to him by the Negus (the king of Abyssinia). These socks had a split in the area covering the tops of the feet. The Prophet wiped over his feet while wearing these socks. When people saw this, they said he had wiped over his leather socks (but he had not). However, the authenticity of this narration is not confirmed.
وَ سُئِلَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ خُفُّهُ مُخَرَّقاً فَيُدْخِلُ يَدَهُ وَ يَمْسَحُ ظَهْرَ قَدَمَيْهِ أَ يُجْزِيهِ فَقَالَ «نَعَمْ.
Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام was asked about a man whose leather socks (khuffs) are torn, and he puts his hand in and wipes over the tops of his feet. Is this sufficient? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سُئِلَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ رَجُلٍ قُطِعَتْ يَدُهُ مِنَ اَلْمِرْفَقِ كَيْفَ يَتَوَضَّأُ قَالَ «يَغْسِلُ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ عَضُدِهِ. وَ كَذَلِكَ رُوِيَ: فِي قَطْعِ اَلرِّجْلِ «وَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَتِ، اَلْمَرْأَةُ أَلْقَتْ قِنَاعَهَا عَنْ مَوْضِعِ مَسْحِ رَأْسِهَا فِي صَلاَةِ اَلْغَدَاةِ وَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ وَ تَمْسَحُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُجْزِيهَا فِي سَائِرِ اَلصَّلَوَاتِ أَنْ تُدْخِلَ إِصْبَعَهَا فَتَمْسَحَ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تُلْقِيَ عَنْهَا قِنَاعَهَا.
Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام, was asked about a man whose hand was cut off at the elbow. How should he perform wudu? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should wash what remains of his forearm." And similarly, it was narrated regarding the amputation of the leg. When a woman performs wudu, She should remove her head covering (niqab) from the area where She wipes her head during the Fajr and Maghrib prayers, and She can wipe over it. In all other prayers, She may insert her finger to wipe over her head without having to remove her head covering.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى اَلنَّاسِ فِي اَلْوُضُوءِ أَنْ تَبْدَأَ اَلْمَرْأَةُ بِبَاطِنِ ذِرَاعِهَا وَ اَلرَّجُلُ بِظَاهِرِ اَلذِّرَاعِ.
Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام said: "Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, has prescribed for people in wudu that a woman should begin with the inner part of her arm, while a man should begin with the outer part of his arm”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ ذَكَرَ اِسْمَ اَللَّهِ عَلَى وُضُوئِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا اِغْتَسَلَ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: 'Whoever mentions the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى while performing wudu (ablution) is as if they have taken a full bath (ghusl).'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَذَكَرَ اِسْمَ اَللَّهِ طَهُرَ جَمِيعُ جَسَدِهِ وَ كَانَ اَلْوُضُوءُ إِلَى اَلْوُضُوءِ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا مِنَ اَلذُّنُوبِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَمْ يَطْهُرْ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ إِلاَّ مَا أَصَابَهُ اَلْمَاءُ.
It is narrated: 'Whoever performs ablution and mentions the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, all of his body becomes pure, and the ablution performed between two ablutions serves as atonement for the sins committed between them. And whoever does not mention [the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى] will not purify his body except for what the water touches.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ لِلْمَغْرِبِ كَانَ وُضُوؤُهُ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا مَضَى مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ فِي نَهَارِهِ مَا خَلاَ اَلْكَبَائِرَ وَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ لِصَلاَةِ اَلصُّبْحِ كَانَ وُضُوؤُهُ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا مَضَى مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ فِي لَيْلَتِهِ إِلاَّ اَلْكَبَائِرَ.
Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام said: 'Whoever performs ablution for the Maghrib prayer, his ablution serves as atonement for the sins he committed during the day, except for the major sins. And whoever performs ablution for the Fajr prayer, his ablution serves as atonement for the sins he committed during the night, except for the major sins.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «اِفْتَحُوا عُيُونَكُمْ عِنْدَ اَلْوُضُوءِ لَعَلَّهَا لاَ تَرَى نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "'Open your eyes during ablution, so that they may not see the fire of Hell.'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ وَ تَمَنْدَلَ كَتَبَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ حَسَنَةً وَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ وَ لَمْ يَتَمَنْدَلْ حَتَّى يَجِفَّ وَضُوؤُهُ كَتَبَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ ثَلاَثُونَ حَسَنَةً.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: 'Whoever performs ablution and wipes himself (with a towel) will have a good deed written for him. And whoever performs ablution and does not wipe himself until his ablution dries, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will write for him thirty good deeds.'.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وبأس بأن يصلي الرجل بوضوء واحد صلوات الليل والنهار كلها ما لم يحدث وكذلك بتيمم واحد ما لم يحدث أو يصب ماء.
And it is permissible for a man to pray with one ablution for all the prayers of the night and day as long as he does not break his ablution, and the same applies to a single tayammum (dry ablution) as long as he does not break it or find water.
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ اَلرَّجُلُ فَلْيَصْفِقْ وَجْهَهُ بِالْمَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ كَانَ نَاعِساً فَزِعَ وَ اِسْتَيْقَظَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ اَلْبَرْدُ فَزِعَ فَلَمْ يَجِدِ اَلْبَرْدَ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "'When a man performs ablution, let him splash his face with water, for if he is drowsy, it will awaken him, and if it is cold, he will not feel the cold.'".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
فإذا كان مع الرجل خاتم فليدوره في الوضوء، ويحوله عند الغسل.
If a man has a ring, he should rotate it during ablution and remove it during a wash (ghusl).
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «وَ إِنْ نَسِيتَ حَتَّى تَقُومَ مِنَ اَلصَّلاَةِ فَلاَ آمُرُكَ أَنْ تُعِيدَ».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "And if you forget (to rotate your ring in ablution) until you stand in Salat, then I do not command you to repeat it (Salat)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وإذا استيقظ الرجل من نومه ولم يبل فلا يدخل يده في الاناء حتى يغسلها فإنه لا يدري أين باتت يده. وزكاة الوضوء أن يقول المتوضي: " اللهم إني أسألك تمام الوضوء وتمام الصلاة وتمام رضوانك والجنة " فهذا زكاة الوضوء.
And if a man wakes up from his sleep and has not relieved himself, he should not put his hand in the vessel until he washes it, for he does not know where his hand has been during the night. The supplication of ablution is for the person performing it to say: supplication of ablution is for the one performing it to say: Allahumma inni as’aluka tamama al-wudu, wa tamama al-salah, wa tamama ridwanika, wal-jannah 'O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I ask You for the completion of my ablution, the completion of my prayer, Your pleasure, and Paradise.' This is the supplication of ablution.
Commentary #1