Page 29

The Virtues and Rewards of Wudhu and Ghusl

It is mentioned in a Hadith that whoever reads Bismillah when commencing with wudhu (and to read Bismillahi wal hamdolillah is better), and when washing every limb he reads:

"Ash hado al la ilaha illa Allaho wahdaho la shareeka laho, wa ash hado anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh", and on completing his wudhu he reads:
"Allahumma ij'alni minat tawwaabeena waj'alni minal mutatahhireen."

Translation: "O Allah! Make me among the repenters and among the purified ones."

then after he dies, the eight doors of paradise will be opened for him and he can enter from whichever one he wishes. If immediately after that, he reads two rak'ats of nafl salaat, reciting the Quran therein with full concentration, and he also reads all his other salaat in this way, i.e. with presence of mind, then when he completes his salaat, he will be purified of all his sins just as the day when his mother had given birth to him. He will be told to start with his deeds from the beginning, and until now, all his past sins will be forgiven. The ulama say that here it refers to minor sins. How will he know that he has been told to start his deeds again? The answer to this is that by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioning this in the Hadith, we have come to know of it. To mention it in this way and to get glad tidings and practise on it is sufficient.

It is mentioned in a Hadith: "That person's wudhu is not complete who does not send salutations (durood) upon me." And in another Hadith, the time for sending durood is after completing the wudhu.

It is related in a Hadith that: "When a person makes wudhu and washes his face, all those sins which he committed with his eyes are washed off with the water or the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, all those sins which he had committed with his hands are washed off with the water or the last drop of water. When he washes his feet, all those sins which he had committed with his feet are washed off, until he is completely purified from all sins." (Muslim) Here sins refer to minor sins as explained by the ulama. The sin of the eyes is to look at something evil. The sin of the hands, for example, is to touch someone with an evil intention. The sin of the feet is to go somewhere with an evil intention. Ensure that you make wudhu thoroughly. Value the virtues and rewards that have been mentioned in regard to wudhu.

Hadrat Anas radiallahu anhu (he is a senior Sahabi who had remained in the service of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam for ten years) has related a lengthy Hadith. He says that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "O Anas! wash thoroughly when you are making ghusl of janabat (major impurity). If you do this, then without doubt you will come out from that place of bathing in such a state that no sin will remain on you.(here too it refers to minor sins) I asked: "O Rasulullah! how does one wash thoroughly?" He replied: "It means that you wet the roots of the hair and clean the body thoroughly." (it is mustahab to cleanse the body by rubbing it. It cannot be cleaned properly without rubbing it. "Thoroughly" means to wash it very well as has been explained by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam then said: "O my dear son! (here son is used out of love) if you have the strength, try to be in a state of wudhu all the time. The one