Wudhu is a great Ibaadah (act of worship). Rasulullah (SAW) is reported to have said that when a person performs wudhu in the proper manner, all the (minor) sins that were committed are washed off by means of the wudhu. However, certain acts spoil this great Ibaadah and deprive one of the full benefits and virtues of wudhu. Among these acts is the wasting of water.
It has been very conservatively estimated that at average most people use more than six litres of water for one wudhu. This is in stark contrast to the amount of water that Rasulullah (SAW) used for his wudhu. Aisha (RA) reports that Rasulullah (SAW) used one mudd of water for wudhu and one saa for ghusal (Abu Dawood). One mudd amounts to approximately 1.03 litres and one saa is approximately 4.1 litres. In other words, we generally use more water for wudhu than Rasulullah (SAW) used for ghusal. Once Jaabir (RA) narrated the saying of Rasulullah (SAW) that one mudd of water suffices for wudhu and one saa for ghusal. A person sitting there remarked: "It does not suffice for me." Jaabir (RA) silenced him by saying: "It sufficed for him [Rasulullah (SAW)] who was better than you and who even had more hair than you" (hence he would require more water than you to wash the head during ghusal) (Ibn Majah).
To use more than what is necessary is termed israaf. Regarding israaf Allah (SWT) declares:
"Verily Allah does not love the wasters."
On one occasion Rasulullah (SAW) asked a person who was performing wudhu: "Why are you wasting water?" The person enquired: "Is there israaf even in wudhu?" Rasulullah (SAW) replied: "Yes indeed, (do not waste) even if you are at the bank of a river" (Ibn Majah).
Hence it is necessary to become conscious of this important aspect and refrain from wasting water during wudhu.
Information from
Al-Haadi Newsletter Vol 8 - Issue 2 - July 2001
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