How Did Prophet Muhammad Perform Wudu? Discover the Details!

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How Did Prophet Muhammad Perform Wudu? ~ Hi, readers! In this article, I will explain how Prophet Muhammad performed wudu. In the previous article, I discussed various aspects of wudu. One of its functions is to cleanse certain parts of the body, which is a condition for performing several rituals in Islam, such as prayer and reading the Quran. Additionally, wudu is also believed to bring peace to the soul and mind.

As always, before I explain how Prophet Muhammad performed wudu, I will quote some hadiths to elucidate this topic.

Hadith About the Wudu of Prophet Muhammad

The hadith about the wudu of Prophet Muhammad that I am referring to is as follows:

عَنْ حَمْرَانَ: أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ دَعَا بِوُضُوْءٍ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْمِرْفَقِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوْئِيْ هَذَا. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Hamran, Uthman performed wudu. He washed his palms three times. Then he rinsed his mouth, put a little water into his nose, and removed the water from his nose. Then he washed his face three times. Then he washed his right hand up to the elbow three times, and similarly for his left hand. Then he wiped his head. Next, he washed his right foot up to the ankles three times, and similarly for his left foot. Then he said, "I have seen the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) perform wudu like this." The hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ فِي صِفَةِ وُضُوْءِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَاحِدَةً. أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ

From Ali (radliyallahu anhu) about the nature of the wudu of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). He said, "He wiped his head once." The hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرُو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا فِي صِفَةِ الْوُضُوْءِ قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأَدْخَلَ إِصْبِعَيْهِ السَّبَاحَتَيْنِ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ، وَمَسَحَ بِأَبْهَامِهِ ظَاهِرَ أُذُنَيْهِ. أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

From Abd Allah ibn Amr (radliyallahu anhuma) about the nature of wudu. He said, "Then he (Prophet Muhammad) wiped his head and put his two index fingers into his ears, and he wiped the outside of his ears with his two thumbs." The hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’i.

There is one important thing I want to mention before providing further explanation: the description of how Prophet Muhammad performed wudu is not limited to the two hadiths above. Information about the methods he used is found in many hadiths. I have quoted these two hadiths because they cover most of the methods of his wudu. I will discuss the other methods in the next few articles, Allah willing.

How Did Prophet Muhammad Perform Wudu?

If we observe the two hadiths above, we can conclude the following points:

1. Washing the two palms three times. The Prophet Muhammad did this before gargling.
2. Gargling, inhaling a little water, and then expelling it. This is intended to clean the dirt in the nostrils. Medical information indicates that this practice is also beneficial for overall health, particularly for treating colds and headaches.
3. Washing the face three times.
4. Washing the right hand and the left hand three times.
5. Wiping the head once. Although the hadith above mentions wiping the head only once, other hadiths suggest that the ideal number is three times.
6. Wiping the two ears, both inside and outside.
7. Washing the two feet up to the ankles.

Dear readers, please note that the above methods include both obligatory and recommended actions. The obligatory methods are:

1. Washing the face.
2. Washing the two hands.
3. Wiping the head.
4. Washing the two feet up to the ankles.

The recommended (sunnah in wudu) practices of wudu include:

1. Washing the two palms.
2. Gargling, inhaling a little water, and then expelling it.
3. Wiping the two ears.

Obligatory methods are those that must be performed for the wudu to be valid. If these are not done, the wudu is not considered valid. Recommended practices are additional acts that are better to perform but are not required. If they are omitted, it does not invalidate the wudu.

Here is the complete hadith I mentioned earlier:

فَقَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوْئِيْ هَذَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ لَا يُحْدِثُ فِيْهِمَا نَفْسَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever performs wudu like this and then prays two rak'ahs without speaking to himself during the prayer, his past and future sins will be forgiven.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding how Prophet Muhammad performed wudu provides valuable insights into this essential Islamic practice. The hadiths describe a meticulous process involving washing the palms, face, arms, and feet, and wiping the head and ears. This not only fulfills the obligatory aspects of wudu but also incorporates recommended practices that enhance its spiritual benefits. By adhering to these methods, we ensure that our wudu is performed correctly and our prayers are valid. The described process reflects the Prophet's commitment to maintaining both physical cleanliness and spiritual purity. As we continue to explore the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, let us strive to implement these practices in our daily lives. May our efforts in performing wudu and other acts of worship bring us closer to Allah and strengthen our faith.

Stay tuned for more detailed discussions in upcoming articles. Thank you for reading, and may you find peace and guidance in your spiritual journey. Ameen.