Take Wudhu beyond “ritual washing”

by Asma bint Shameem

Wudhu is such a beautiful thing.

It is done so that we can purify ourselves before we stand for prayer in front of Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.

But there is a way you can convert this 'mundane' ritual into something much more beautiful, much more meaningful, much more rewarding. A way to take wudhu beyond "ritual washing'.

Every time you perform wudhu, remember the following:

1. Remember: Wudhu is ibaadah

Yes, wudhu is one of the conditions of the prayer and without it our salaah will not be valid.

But usually we do it so “routinely”, without giving it much thought......a swift washing of our hands and feet, a quick splish splash on the face, a fast wipe over the head and we're done.

Our wudhu gets even more neglected when we are tired, sleepy or in a rush.

But there is more to wudhu than just being a condition for worship.

There is something that makes it more than just a ‘routine’ thing before prayer......

something ‘higher’ and ‘more complete’....

something that most of us neglect or overlook.

And that is.....that the very act of wudhu is a form of worship in itself.

Just Imagine!

Every time you do wudhu, you're worshiping Allaah!

What a blessing indeed!

2. Remember: By doing wudhu you're obeying Allaah

Every time you make wudhu, be conscious of Allaah, your Rabb, and remember that it is Him, Who ordered you to perform wudhu in the first place.

And you are carrying out His Orders, His Command....

You are obeying Him....And that you LOVE to obey Him.

Be conscious of your obedience to Him and thank Him for enabling you to carry out His Command as He says:

🍃 O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles.” [Surah al-Maa’idah:6]

Connecting your wudhu with the obedience of Allaah this way, will increase your love for Him, and strengthen your Imaan....and improve your relationship with Him.

It will make you more conscious of Him when you stand in front of Him in prayer and give you more Khushoo'.

3. Remember: This is the way the PROPHET ﷺ did wudhu:

Be conscious of the fact that you are following the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

It is the same way he ﷺ did wudhu..... the Prophet that you love and honor and respect....

and it is his Sunnah that you LOVE to follow.

Not only will Allaah reward you for following His Messenger ﷺ, but it will also increase your love for the Sunnah as well.

4. Remember: Wudhu is washing away your sins

Every time you do wudhu, keep in mind that as you're washing the different body parts, you're also washing away your sins….

Washing away the sins of your hands, your eyes, your mouth, your face, your feet.

Alhamdulillaah!

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When the Muslim or believing slave does wudhu and washes his face, every wrong thing that he looked at with his eyes comes out from his face with the water or with the last drop of water.

When he washes his hands, every wrong thing that he did with his hands comes out from his hands with the water or with the last drop of water.

When he washes his feet every wrong thing that he walked to with his feet comes out from his feet with the water or with the last drop of water, until he emerges cleansed of sin.” (Muslim)

🍃 He ﷺ also said:

"He who performs wudhu like this wudhu of mine and then offered two rak'ahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins are expiated." (Muslim)

5. Remember: Your face, hands and feet will SHINE BRIGHTLY on the day of Resurrection

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

"On the Day of Resurrection) You will have distinctive marks "Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun" which nobody among the peoples (except you) will have; you would come to me (at the Cistern of al-Kauthar) with blazing forehead and bright hands and feet on account of the traces of ablution." (Muslim)

Whenever you do wudhu, think of these people who will have bright hands and faces on the Day of Resurrection and know that if you do wudhu properly, sincerely for the sake of pleasing Allaah, and according to the Sunnah, then Allaah will make YOU among those fortunate ones.

YOUR hands and face and feet will shine too!

6. Remember: Wudhu is a sign of the believer

Also keep in mind, that if you try to be in the state of wudhu as much as you can, that this is a sign of a believer.

Knowing this will push you to make wudhu frequently and will make “routine” washing into something you will look forward to eagerly.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Only the believer will remain with his wudhu (sustaining it at all times)." (Saheeh al-Jamee)

And if you have difficulty in doing wudhu, like during cold weather, or in any other situation that makes wudhu difficult, yet you still try your best to maintain it, then there's nothing like it.

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Shall I not tell you something by which Allaah effaces the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?''

The Companions said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allaah.''

He ﷺ said:

"Performing the Wudhu thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the masjid, and waiting for the next prayer after observing a prayer; and that is (true) mindfulness. (Muslim)

7. Remember: Use the Siwaak and take it to a higher level

When making wudhu, use the Siwaak and remember that this is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

He ﷺ loved to use it and highly encouraged us to do the same.

🍃 Ibn Mas’ood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“I used to gather siwaak sticks from the araak tree for the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ. ” (Ahmad--hasan).

🍃 He ﷺ said:

“Were it not for the fact that I did not want to make things too hard for my ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Siwaak at every time of prayer.” (al-Bukhaari)

So when you connect the siwaak to your wudhu, it will put new meaning to your routine washing and make it more beloved to you.

🔺Take away points

CONNECT your HEART to your wudhu.

CHANGE your perspective on this ritual washing.

It's not a 'chore' and it's certainly NOT a 'burden'.

It's also not simply 'splashing' a few handfuls on your face, arms and feet.

Rather, it's a beautiful act of Ibaadah.

A chance to earn rewards.

An opportunity to have our sins forgiven.

Every single time you perform wudhu, make sure it’s according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and do it sincerely for the sake of Allaah, expecting a reward from Him, asking Him to accept it from you, hoping that He will forgive you.

And turn this ritual into a tremendous source of immense rewards, mercy and forgiveness from your Rabb.

May Allaah make us among those who purify themselves for His sake, physically as well spiritually.

And Allaah knows best.