How to Perform Wudu for Females? A Complete Guide
Hi, all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of "How to perform wudu for females?"? If your answer is “Yes,” congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain here. As Muslims, understanding this is essential. That’s why I wrote this article. So, make sure to read it to the end!
Specifically, there are some important aspects of "How to perform wudu for females?" that I will cover in this article. Some of these important aspects are as follows:
Why Is Wudu for Females Important?
The important aspect of "How to perform wudu for females?" that I will explain now is "Why wudu for females is important?". I want you to understand this first before you read further explanations in this article because it is a fundamental question in this discussion that should be well understood.
In general, if we refer to Islamic legal literature on wudu, we find three reasons why wudu for females is important. These reasons are as follows:
- Wudu is the most important way to cleanse oneself of minor impurities, with the only alternative being Tayammum. This is a common understanding among Muslims, so I will not elaborate further here.
- Some acts of worship in Islam require Muslims to be in a state of purity through wudu. One example is prayer. This is explained in the following hadith:
عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ
From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Allah does not accept the prayer of anyone of you if he has hadas (minor impurity) until he performs wudu." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي بَطْنِهِ شَيْئًا فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَخْرَجَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ أَمْ لَا؟ فَلَا يَخْرُجَنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيْحًا. أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ
From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, 'If one of you feels something in his stomach and doubts whether something has come out or not, he should not leave the mosque until he hears a sound or smells an odor.' This hadith was narrated by Muslim.
وَعَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ تَمِيمٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، أَنَّهُ شَكَا إِلَى رَسُوْلِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ الشَّيْءَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ. فَقَالَ: لَا يَنْفَتِلْ أَوْ لَا يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا.
From 'Abbad bin Tamim, from his uncle, that a man complained to the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about doubts he had during prayer. The Prophet said, "He should not move or leave until he hears a sound or smells an odor."
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ طَلْقٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِذَا فَسَا أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَنْصَرِفْ وَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَلْيُعِدْ الصَّلَاةَ. رَوَاهُ الْخَمْسَةُ
From Ali bin Thalq radiyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, 'If any of you passes wind silently during prayer, he should go out, perform wudu, and repeat the prayer.' This hadith is narrated by five sources (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah)."
- Wudu has many virtues, which I will discuss in the next few paragraphs.
That’s a brief explanation of "Why wudu for females is important?". As Muslims, it is essential for us to understand this.
When Should Females Perform Wudu?
The important point about "How to perform wudu for females?" that I will explain now is "When should females perform wudu?". I want you to understand this so that you know when females need to perform wudu.
In the previous paragraphs, I explained that wudu is the most important way to remove minor impurities. I also mentioned that several acts of worship in Islam require Muslims to be in a state of purity through wudu. One of these acts is prayer.
So, if you ask me, "When should females perform wudu?" the answer is "Females should perform wudu when they have minor impurities and are about to engage in worship that requires them to be in a state of purity."
That’s a brief explanation of "When should females perform wudu?". As Muslims, we must understand this.
The Virtues of Wudu for Females
The important point about "How to perform wudu for females?" that I will explain now is the virtues of wudu for females. I want you to understand this because it is crucial in this discussion.
Before explaining the virtues of wudu for females, I will quote two hadiths related to this topic. The hadiths are as follows:
عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ: إِنَّ أُمَّتِيْ يَأْتُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الْوُضُوْءِ، فَمَنْ اِسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ
From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say, 'My people will come on the Day of Judgment with radiant faces and limbs from the effects of wudu. Whoever among you can prolong this radiance, let him do so.'" The hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
This hadith explains that one of the virtues of wudu is that it serves as a distinguishing mark for the followers of Prophet Muhammad on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet will recognize his followers by the radiance on their bodies resulting from wudu.
عَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ، إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَةُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ. أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَزَادَ: اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
From Umar radiyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, 'Whoever performs wudu perfectly and then says, 'I testify that there is no god but Allah, who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger,' the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he can enter from whichever gate he wishes.'" The hadith is narrated by Muslim and at-Tirmidhi. At-Tirmidhi added, "O Allah, make me among those who repent and those who are purified."
This hadith explains that performing wudu and then praying is a means for Muslims to enter Paradise through any gate they wish, highlighting another virtue of wudu.
That’s a brief explanation of the virtues of wudu for females. As Muslims, we must understand this.
How to Perform Wudu for Females?
The important point about "How to perform wudu for females?" that I will explain now is a specific explanation. So, I hope you read the explanation below very carefully.
The Explanation of Wudu for Females is as follows:
Wudu for Females Step by Step
Before I explain wudu for females step by step, I want to clarify that there is no difference between wudu for females and wudu for males. In other words, the procedures for performing wudu are the same for both.
In general, the requirements for wudu for both females and males can be found in some of the hadiths below:
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 water into his nose, and removed it. He then washed his face three times. He washed his right hand up to the elbow three times, then his left hand in the same way. Next, he wiped his head. He then washed his right foot up to the ankles three times, and his left foot in the same way. He said, "I saw the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam perform wudu in this manner." The hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ فِيْ صِفَةِ وُضُوْءِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَاحِدَةً. أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ
From Ali radiyallahu anhu, regarding the description of the Prophet Muhammad’s wudu, he said, "He (Prophet Muhammad) wiped his head once." The hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرُو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا فِيْ صِفَةِ الْوُضُوْءِ قَالَ: ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأَدْخَلَ إِصْبِعَيْهِ السَّبَاحَتَيْنِ فِيْ أُذُنَيْهِ، وَمَسَحَ بِأَبْهَامِهِ ظَاهِرَ أُذُنَيْهِ. أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ
From Abd Allah ibn Amr radiyallahu anhuma, about the nature of wudu, he said, "Then he (Prophet Muhammad) wiped his head and inserted his two index fingers into his ears, and he rubbed the outer part of his ears with his thumbs." The hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i.
All readers! From the hadiths about wudu mentioned above, we can conclude that the things females (and all Muslims, of course) must do in wudu are as follows:
- Gargling. This is sunnah in wudu.
- Washing the face. This is wajib in wudu.
- Saying niyyah for wudu while washing the face. This is wajib in wudu.
- Washing the two hands up to the elbows. This is wajib in wudu.
- Wiping some of the hair of the head. This is wajib in wudu.
- Rubbing the two ears. This is wajib in wudu.
- Washing the two feet up to the ankles. This is wajib in wudu.
Conclusion
Understanding how to perform wudu for females is essential for every Muslim. It ensures purity and readiness for acts of worship, fulfilling a fundamental aspect of our faith. The steps outlined in this article provide a clear guide to performing wudu correctly. Remember, wudu is not just a ritual but a means to spiritual and physical cleanliness. I hope this explanation has clarified the importance, timing, virtues, and procedure of wudu for females. If you have any questions or need further details, feel free to ask. Thank you for reading, and may your practice of wudu bring you closer to Allah. Ameen.
See you in the next article!
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