Friday, January 29, 2016

Removing the Doubts: Increasing the area of washing during Wudhoo’

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Introduction:

This is a short clarification of the Ahaadeeth of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه regarding the statement: “whoever can increase the area of his radiance while making Wudhoo’ (ablution) should do so.” The clarification is from the statements of the scholars including Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Baaz, Ibn al-`Uthaymeen and al-Albaanee رحمهم الله. Their statements have been summarized, paraphrased and arranged in points for short reading and better understanding.


The Ahaadeeth:

The first narration: 

Narrated Nu`aim Al-Mujmir: Once I went up to the roof of the Masjid, along with Abu Hurairah. He performed ablution and said: I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying:

إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الوُضُوءِ، فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ

On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called: “Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjaloon” [they would come with bright faces and bright hands and feet on account] of the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance on his forehead should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (136) and Saheeh Muslim (478)]


The second narration:

أَنْتُمُ الْغُرُّ الْمُحَجَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ إِسْباغِ الْوُضُوءِ، فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكمْ فَلْيُطِلْ غُرَّتَهُ وَتَحْجِيلَهُ

You shall have your faces hands and feet bright on the Day of Resurrection because of your perfect ablution. He who can afford among you, let him increase the brightness of his Ghurrah (forehead) and that of Hijl (hands and legs).
[Saheeh Muslim (477)]


The third narration:

Abu Haazim reported: I was (standing) behind Abu Hurairah and he was performing the ablution for prayer. He extended the (washing) of his hand that it went up to his armpit. I said to him: O Abu Hurairah, what is this ablution? He said: O (those from) the tribe of Faruukh, you are here; if I knew that you were here, I would have never performed ablution like this; I have heard my Friend (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) say:

تَبْلُغُ الْحِلْيَةُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَيْثُ يَبْلُغُ الْوَضُوءُ

In a believer adornment (ornaments/jewelry) would reach the places where ablution reaches.
[Saheeh Muslim (484) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (149)]


The First Part: the meaning of the word “al-Ghurrah” and “al-Tahjeel”:

Al-Ghurrah: the word originally means the white marking which is normally on the forehead of a horse. The word is now used to describe beauty, fame, and male fragrance. In the Hadeeth, the meaning is the Noor (radiance) which will be on the faces of the people from the Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. [Fath al-Baaree of al-Haafidh Ibn al-Hajar (1/236)]

Al-Tahjeel: It refers to the white markings (which are often) on the three legs (out of four) of a horse. Its origin is from the word al-Hijl which means anklets (the ornament which is worn around the ankles). In the Hadeeth, it refers to the Noor (radiance) which will be on the (hands and) feet of the people from the Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. [Fath al-Baaree of al-Haafidh Ibn al-Hajar (1/236)]

And the meaning of: “increase the brightness of al-Ghurrah and al-Tahjeel”, is washing the limbs (face, arms and feet) perfectly and more than what is obligatory while making Wudhoo’. It is obligatory to wash them once; washing them twice is better; and washing them thrice is more complete, preferable and near to perfection.


The Second Part: the ruling on increasing the area for washing for the forehead, arms, and legs while making Wudhoo’:

It is not legislated to increase the area - of the forehead, arms and legs - more than what has been mentioned in the Texts (i.e. one is not to wash the arms reaching up to the armpit, or wash the feet up to half the shins or above, or to include the neck while wiping).

And this is the view of:
1) al-Maalikee Madhhab [الذخيرة (1/278)].
2) One of the narrations from Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله [الإنصاف للمرداوي (1/127)].
3) Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله [مجموع الفتاوى (1/279-280)].
4) Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله [زاد المعاد (1/196-197)].
5) Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله [فتاوى نور على الدرب (5/120-121)]
6) Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله [لقاء الباب المفتوح (اللقاء رقم 58)]
7) Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله [الصحيحة (1/508) and الضعيفة (1030)]


The reasons being:

1 – In reference to the first Hadeeth quoted above where only al-Ghurrah is mentioned, washing the upper arm is not part of Itaalat-ul-Ghurrah (increasing the shine of the forehead). Al-Ghurrah is part of the face and not part of the hands and the feet. In regards to the hands and feet, the word is al-Hijlah. [Ibn Taymiyyah in مجموع الفتاوى (1/279)]

2 – One cannot increase the area of washing for the face. Al-Ghurrah is for the face and the whole face is washed while making Wudhoo’ (and there is nothing left to wash. Rinsing the mouth and sniffling water in the nose is part of washing the face). And there is no Ghurrah for the head. [Ibn Taymiyyah in مجموع الفتاوى (1/279-280)]

3 – Itaalat-ul-Ghurrah (increasing the shine of the forehead) means washing the face completely without exceeding the limits. It is not possible to increase the shine of the face any further because washing the face is limited to what is between the beginning of the hairline to the lower part of the chin, and what is between the ears. [Ibn Baaz in فتاوى نور على الدرب (5/120-121)]

4 – The head is not part of the face, (and the neck is not part of the head). One should wash the face but not the head. One should only wipe over the head once along with the ears; beginning from the forelock to the neckline and backwards again. One should run the fingertips along the external ears from inside and outside. [Ibn Baaz in فتاوى نور على الدرب (5/120-121)]

5 – It is not recommended to increase the area of al-Hijlah (the hands and feet) because increasing the area for washing the arms (up to the armpit) and the feet (up to the knees) is hardship (or overburdening for the creation). [Ibn Taymiyyah in مجموع الفتاوى (1/280)]

6 – Isbaagh al-Wudhoo’ on the hands and arms means washing them perfectly from the tips of the fingers to the elbows; and just enough of the upper arms so that the elbows are included. Washing them once is obligatory, twice is better, but three times is more complete and preferable. [Ibn Baaz in فتاوى نور على الدرب (5/120-121)]

7 - The additions in regards to al-Tahjeel (exceeding the elbows and the feet in washing the arms and feet in Wudhoo’), done by Abu Hurairah, are his Ijtihaad and they are not attributed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Sunnah restricts this to the elbows and ankles. It was authentically reported that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed Wudhoo’, he washed the upper arm, meaning only that part so that the elbows are included and not beyond that; and when he washed his feet, (he washed some part of the shins) so that the ankles get included. This is the Sunnah. [Ibn Baaz in فتاوى نور على الدرب (5/120-121) and Ibn al-`Uthaymeen in لقاء الباب المفتوح (اللقاء رقم 58)]

8 – Those who narrated the description of the Wudhoo’ of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not narrate from him about increasing the washing area for the face, arms and feet. It has not been reported by any of the Companions رضي الله عنهم except for Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه. [إحكام الأحكام (1/93)]

9 – The opinion of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه is not followed because there is nothing in the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to indicate that one should increase the area of washing. (In the third narration quoted above) the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم clearly said: places where ablution reaches, which means the legislated area of washing (i.e. the face including the mouth and nose; the two arms up to the elbows, wiping the head including the ear, and the feet including the ankles). So increasing the area is not legislated. It is not allowed to increase the area like how it is not allowed to fall short on that. [Al-Albaanee in الصحيحة (1/508)]

10 – Some use this Hadeeth to recommend washing the upper arms and increasing the washing area, but the correct opinion is that there is no evidence in this Hadeeth to support that, because the ornaments are worn on the forearms and the wrists and not on the upper arms and shoulders. [Ibn al-Qayyim in حادي الأرواح إلى بلاد الأفراح (1/201)]

11 – The ending statement in the first Hadeeth: and whoever can increase the area of his radiance on his forehead should do so, is not the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Rather it is the statement of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه. Nu`aim Al-Mujmir who reported it from Abu Hurairah said: “I do not know if it is the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم or the statement of Abu Hurairah.” [Musnad Ahmad (8413, 10778). For extensive discussion on this, see الضعيفة of Shaikh al-Albaanee (1030)]

From those who held this opinion were: al-Mundhiree, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn al-Hajar al-`Asqalaanee, Ibn Baaz, Ibn al-`Uthaymeen and al-Albaanee رحمهم الله. [Al-Albaanee in الصحيحة (1/509) and Ibn al-Qayyim in حادي الأرواح (1/201)]

12 – Ten Companions رضي الله عنهم narrated the Hadeeth describing the Wudhoo’ of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but none reported this except for Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه; and no one narrated this from Abu Hurairah except for Nu`aim al-Mujmir. [Ibn al-Hajar inالفتح الباري (1/236)]


وصلى الله وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين

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