The Description of the Ablution of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 9
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Book 1, Chapter 9
The Description of the Ablution of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم
10 hadiths · 5 commentaries
قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ اَلْبَاقِرُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «أَ لاَ أَحْكِي لَكُمْ وُضُوءَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ » فَقِيلَ لَهُ بَلَى فَدَعَا بِقَعْبٍ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ حَسَرَ عَنْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ ثُمَّ غَمَسَ فِيهِ كَفَّهُ اَلْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ قَالَ «هَذَا إِذَا كَانَتِ اَلْكَفُّ طَاهِرَةً» ثُمَّ غَرَفَ مِلْأَهَا مَاءً ثُمَّ وَضَعَهُ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ وَقَالَ « بِسْمِ اَللَّهِ » وَ سَيَّلَهُ عَلَى أَطْرَافِ لِحْيَتِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَّ يَدَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَ ظَاهِرِ جَبِينَيْهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ غَمَسَ يَدَهُ اَلْيُسْرَى فَغَرَفَ بِهَا مِلْأَهَا ثُمَّ وَضَعَهُ عَلَى مِرْفَقِهِ اَلْيُمْنَى فَأَمَرَّ كَفَّهُ عَلَى سَاعِدِهِ حَتَّى جَرَى اَلْمَاءُ عَلَى أَطْرَافِ أَصَابِعِهِ ثُمَّ غَرَفَ بِيَمِينِهِ مِلْأَهَا فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى مِرْفَقِهِ اَلْأَيْسَرِ فَأَمَرَّ كَفَّهُ عَلَى سَاعِدِهِ حَتَّى جَرَى اَلْمَاءُ عَلَى أَطْرَافِ أَصَابِعِهِ وَ مَسَحَ عَلَى مُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ وَ ظَهْرِ قَدَمَيْهِ بِبِلَّةِ بَقِيَّةِ مَائِهِ.
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Shall I not describe the ablution of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم to you?" They replied: "Yes." He then called for a bowl containing some water and placed it in front of him. He rolled up his sleeves, dipped his right hand into the water, and said: "This is if the hand is pure." He then scooped a full handful of water, placed it on his forehead, "In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى," allowing the water to flow over the edges of his beard. Then he passed his hand over his face and the front of his temples once. He dipped his left hand into the water, scooped a full handful, and placed it on his right elbow, running his hand along his forearm until the water flowed over the tips of his fingers. He then scooped with his right hand again and placed it on his left elbow, running his hand along his forearm until the water flowed over the tips of his fingers. He then wiped the front of his head and the tops of his feet with the leftover moisture from the water.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ تَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ عَلَى نَعْلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اَلْمُغِيرَةُ أَ نَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ قَالَ «بَلْ أَنْتَ نَسِيتَ هَكَذَا أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي».
It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم performed wudu and then wiped over his sandals. Al-Mughirah said to him: "Did you forget, O’ Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم?" He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم replied: "No, rather it is you who has forgotten. This is how my Lord عز وجل commanded me."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «وَ اَللَّهِ مَا كَانَ وُضُوءُ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِلاَّ مَرَّةً مَرَّةً وَ تَوَضَّأَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَرَّةً مَرَّةً» فَقَالَ «هَذَا وُضُوءٌ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اَللَّهُ اَلصَّلاَةَ إِلاَّ بِهِ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the ablution of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم was performed only once for each part, and The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم performed wudu once for each action." Imam عليه السلام said: "This is an ablution that Allah سبحانه وتعالى does not accept the prayer without it”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
بِإِسْنَادٍ مُنْقَطِعٍ يَرْوِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ اَلْأَحْوَلُ ذَكَرَهُ عَمَّنْ رَوَاهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ اَلْوُضُوءَ وَاحِدَةً وَاحِدَةً وَ وَضَعَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِلنَّاسِ اِثْنَتَيْنِ اِثْنَتَيْنِ.
In a broken chain of narration, Abu Ja'far al-Ahwal recounts from those who narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام who said: "Allah سبحانه وتعالى made ablution (wudu) obligatory once for each action, but the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم prescribed it twice for the people”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وهذا على جهة الانكار، لا على جهة الاخبار، كأنه عليه السلام يقول: حد الله حدا فتجاوزه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وتعداه وقد قال الله تعالى: " وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ.
The chain of narration is disconnected, and this is in the form of denial (of the Prophet exceeding the limit of Allah سبحانه وتعالى), and not informing (of the limit being exceeded). Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام recalled this report is in the context to refute it, and not to ‘report’ it This is stated in a manner of condemnation, rather than mere reporting, as if He عليه السلام is saying: Allah سبحانه وتعالى has set a limit, and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم has exceeded it. And Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, has said: "And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah سبحانه وتعالى has certainly wronged himself." (Surah At Talaq 65:1)
وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ اَلْوُضُوءَ حَدٌّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اَللَّهِ لِيَعْلَمَ اَللَّهُ مَنْ يُطِيعُهُ وَ مَنْ يَعْصِيهِ وَ أَنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ لاَ يُنَجِّسُهُ شَيْءٌ وَ إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيهِ مِثْلُ اَلدَّهْنِ.
It has been narrated (by Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام ) that: "Ablution is a limit set by Allah سبحانه وتعالى so that He may know who obeys Him and who disobeys Him. And a believer is not made impure by anything ; rather, something like oil is sufficient for him”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ تَعَدَّى فِي وُضُوئِهِ كَانَ كَنَاقِضِهِ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever exceeds the prescribed limits in his ablution (wudu) is like one who nullifies it”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي ذَلِكَ حَدِيثٌ آخَرُ بِإِسْنَادٍ مُنْقَطِعٍ رَوَاهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي اَلْمِقْدَامِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: «إِنِّي لَأَعْجَبُ مِمَّنْ يَرْغَبُ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ اِثْنَتَيْنِ اِثْنَتَيْنِ وَ قَدْ تَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ اِثْنَتَيْنِ اِثْنَتَيْنِ فَإِنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ كَانَ يُجَدِّدُ اَلْوُضُوءَ لِكُلِّ فَرِيضَةٍ وَ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ.
In another narration with a broken chain, Amr ibn Abi al-Miqdam said: "I was informed by someone who heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام say: 'I am amazed at those who prefer to perform wudu twice, while the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم performed it twice. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would renew his ablution for each obligatory prayer and each prayer.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
فمعنى الحديث هو اني لأعجب ممن يرغب عن تجديد الوضوء وقد جدده النبي صلى الله عليه وآله، والخبر الذي روي " أن من زاد على مرتين لم يؤجر " يؤكد ما ذكرته ومعناه أن تجديده بعد التجديد لا أجر له كالاذان، من صلى الظهر والعصر بأذان وإقامتين أجزأه ومن أذن للعصر كان أفضل، والاذان الثالث بدعة لا أجر له، وكذلك ما روي أن مرتين أفضل معناه التجديد، وكذلك ما روي مرتين أنه إسباغ.
The meaning of this narration is that I am astonished at those who neglect to renew their ablution when the Prophet did so. The report that states "Whoever exceeds twice will not be rewarded" supports what I have mentioned. It means that renewing wudu after it has already been done does not carry a reward, similar to the call to prayer (adhan). For instance, one who prays Dhuhr and Asr with one adhan and two iqamah suffices, and it is better to call the adhan for Asr as well. The third call to prayer is an innovation with no reward. The reports indicating that twice is better imply the renewal of wudu, and those mentioning two times indicate its thoroughness (i.e., performing it well).
وَ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ تَجْدِيدَ اَلْوُضُوءِ لِصَلاَةِ اَلْعِشَاءِ يَمْحُو لاَ وَ اَللَّهِ وَ بَلَى وَ اَللَّهِ.
(Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام ) narrated that: "Renewing wudu for the Isha prayer erases sins, by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, indeed it does, by Allah سبحانه وتعالى."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ: «أَنَّ اَلْوُضُوءَ عَلَى اَلْوُضُوءِ نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ وَ مَنْ جَدَّدَ وُضُوءَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَدَثٍ آخَرَ جَدَّدَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ تَوْبَتَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ اِسْتِغْفَارٍ.
(Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام ) narrated in another report that: "Ablution (wudu) upon wudu is light upon light, and whoever renews their wudu without having incurred a new state of impurity, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, renews their repentance without requiring further forgiveness."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وقد فوض الله عز وجل إلى نبيه عليه السلام أمر دينه ولم يفوض إليه تعدي حدوده.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى Almighty has entrusted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم with matters of religion, but He did not entrust him with transgressing the established boundaries set by divine law.
وَ قَوْلُ اَلصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ مَرَّتَيْنِ لَمْ يُؤْجَرْ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام has narrated; "Whoever performs wudu twice will not be rewarded."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
يعني به أنه أتى بغير الذي أمر به ووعد الاجر عليه فلا يستحق الاجر وكذلك كل أجير إذا فعل غير الذي استؤجر عليه لم يكن له أجرة.
This means that by performing wudu in a manner different from what has been prescribed, one does not earn the reward that was promised for proper adherence to the ritual. The comparison is made to a worker who does not perform the task they were hired for; they would not receive payment for not fulfilling the terms of their agreement.
Commentary #1