Some Verdicts on Wudu'

           

• Q If a person performs ablution then goes to prayer, is his prayer invalidated in case he feels as if something (i.e. urine) were dripping from him?
• A Mere feeling based on doubt does not invalidate prayer, so he should not interrupt his prayer. � The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him was asked about a man who feels something occurring to him during his prayer, and he answered: He should not leave his prayer unless he hears a sound or smells a scent� (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ahmad). However, if he is sure that drops of urine are really passed from his penis, his wudu' will be invalidated and he is required to wash the urine, unless he is incontinent of urine (then his prayer would not be invalidated if he does what is due from him. (Fatawa Kubra, P.281, The Book of Purification).
  
  
• Q If a man kisses or hugs his wife and consequently passes pre-seminal fluid, is he required to re-perform wudu' or not?
• A His wudu' becomes invalidated. He should clean his private (sexual) organs and perform wudu'. (Fatawa Kubra, P.294, The Book of Purification).
  
  
• Q If pus is continually coming out from a man's penis, would his prayer be still valid?
• A He must not stop his prayer, but he prays as is possible for him. If the flow of pus does not stop for a time enough for wudu' and prayer, he should perform his prayer even if the pus keeps coming out. However, he should use some protection that prevents the pus from spreading. (Fatawa Kubra, P. 310, The Book of Purification).
  
  
• Q Is the ritual bath (ghusl) enough so that you can do without wudu'?
• A If one is required to have a ritual bath, he would be recommended to perform wudu' beforehand. Thus he performs a complete wudu', then has the bath thereafter; but he should care not to touch his private (sexual) parts during the bath so that his wudu' should not be nullified. When he completes his bath he, is not required to repeat wudu'. But if he performs the ritual bath (ghusl) only (without wudu'), observing the sequence of wudu' organs it would be sufficient for him and the wudu' is not necessary. (Islamic verdict by a group of scholars p1/191).

Wiping over Boots and the Like

            The permissibility and validity of this is based on Jarir ibn Abdullah's tradition:� I saw Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him pass urine then perform wudu' and wipe over his boots� (Agreed upon).

            To perform ablution then put on your boots and wipe over them for other ablutions would be better than putting them on without ablution and taking them off thereafter for the next ablution. Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah said:� I was with Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him on a journey. I intended to take his boots off but he said: Leave them for I put them on after performing wudu', and he wiped over them� (Agreed upon).

The Area to be Wiped

            This wiping with water should be applied to the upper surface of the boots, as the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him did. Ali said:� Had religion been based on personal opinion, then wiping over the bottom surface of the boots would have been more appropriate. I saw Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him wipe over the top of his boots� (Abu Daud and Tabrani).

Pre-requisites for Wiping over Boots

           

1. The boots and the like should be put on after performing wudu'. This is based on the aforesaid Al-Mughirah's tradition.

2. Boots or socks must be clean from filth. If they are impure or filthy they cannot be used (for wiping or prayer). � Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him one day led his Companions in prayer wearing the shoes. During prayer, he took off his shoes because Jibril (Gabriel) had told him that his shoes were not clean�.

3. Wiping over boots and the like applies only in case of wudu', not in case of ritual bath (ghusl). Safwan ibn Assal said:� Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him told us to keep wearing our boots while on travel for three days and nights except in case of major ritual impurity (Janabah). Only in case of urinating, defecating and sleeping (we can wipe over them)� (Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasai).

4. Wiping over boots must be within the prescribed time limit, which is one day and night for residents and three days and nights for travellers. Ali ibn Abi Talib asked about the time limit for wiping (over boots) and the Prophet's answer was:� For a person travelling: Three days and three nights; for a resident: one day and one night� (Muslim & others).

5. Boots must cover the area of the feet as required to be washed.

Description of Wiping over Boots

            Having put on clean boots or socks after performing ablution, a Muslim can wipe them with water, instead of taking them off and washing his feet. He should pass his wet right hand over his right foot from the toes to the leg, then his wet left hand over the left foot likewise. Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, may Allah be pleased with him, described the Prophet's wudu' saying:� Then he performed wudu' and wiped over the boots placing his right hand on his right boot and his left hand on his left boot, then wiped their top surface once as if I am looking at the traces of his fingers on the boots now�.

Time Limit

           

• Three days and nights for a traveller, and one day and night for a resident based on Ali's tradition mentioned earlier.
• The period starts as from the first wiping after minor ritual impurity (hadath) (based on the strongest verdict of scholars) and ends after the elapse of 24 hours for the resident and 72 hours for the traveller.

Things that Terminate the Validity of Wiping

           

• Major ritual impurity (janabah), based on the fore mentioned tradition narrated by Safwan.
• Expiry of the prescribed wiping duration (That is, one day and night for residents, and three days and nights for travellers), as stated in the tradition narrated by Ali ibn Abi Talib ( may Allah be pleased with him).
• Taking off both or either of the boots.

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