Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1436 Programmes
Wudhu is a means of purification of the body as well as a means of expiation of one’s minor sins.…
عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الوُضُوءَ، خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَظْفَارِهِ (رواه مسلم) :
Hazrat ’Uthman bin ‘Affan Radiyallahu Anhu reported: Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “He who performs the Wudhu’ perfectly (i.e., according to Sunnah), his sins will depart from his body, even from under his nails.” ~ Muslim
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The Hadith mentions, whoever makes a “proper, correct , perfect” Wudhu, i.e. : He observes all the Faraa’idh (compulsory actions), Sunnan (Sunnah actions), Mustahabbat (desirable acts) and Aadaab (etiquettes) of Wudhu, then all his (minor) sins will be forgiven. Ulema explain : that ‘sins being forgiven’ refers to the ‘minor sins’ being forgiven … For major sins a person has to make sincere Taubah and Istighfaar.
In a similar Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentions, all his past minor sins are forgiven and even his future minor sins are forgiven!
On the day of Qiyamah, the Believers will be distinguished from others, by the radiance on the limbs that were washed in Wudhu. These limbs will be shining and radiant (like ornaments and jewellery) because of the traces of Wudhu. Hence great care should be taken as not to leave any portion of the skin dry (during Wudhu).
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عن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قال: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ
إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الوُضُوءِ، فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ
Hazrat ’Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anhu reported: I heard Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying: “On the Day of Resurrection, my followers (or Ummah) will be summoned ‘Al-Ghurr Al-Muhajjalun’ from the traces of Whudu’. Whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so.” ~ Al-Bukhari
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Dua to be Read after Whudu
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ قَال :
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ،
فُتِحَتْ لَهُ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ
Hazrat ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab Radiyallahu Anhu narrated that : Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘Whoever performs Whudu, making Whudu well, then says:
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan-abduhu wa rasuluhu, Allahummaj ‘alni minat tawwabina, waj’alni minal mutatahhireen
‘I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone, there are no partners for Him. And I testify that Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam is His servant and Messenger. O Allah! Make me among the repentant, and make me among those who purify themselves.’
Then … the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him, he may enter by whichever of them wishes.” ~ Tirmidhi
Whilst making wudhu, one should conscientize and remind oneself of the great rewards of performing this noble act of Ibaadah.