Complete Answers to Objections Regarding Wudu
Arranged by: Daniyal AhmadSome individuals attempt to give the impression that certain issues related to Wudu are not mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith, as if (نعوذبالله) the Noble Prophet ﷺ did not convey certain matters, and that these “deficiencies” were later completed by Imam Abu Hanifah or other jurists. This notion is, in reality, an accusation against the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
The truth is that the religion is complete, and all matters of Wudu have been explained in detail in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Let us now present brief answers to the questions raised by a biased, blind-following Deobandi, and thereafter pose a question to the respected Deobandi cleric — for which he has time until the Day of Judgment to respond.
Question No. 1
Can another person perform Wudu with water that has already been used for Wudu?
Answer:
Yes, used water (mā’ mustaʿmal) is pure, and it is permissible to perform Wudu again with it.Evidence from the Qur’an
﴿وَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً طَهُورًا﴾“And We sent down from the sky purifying water.”
Reference: Al-Furqan: 48
Evidence from Hadith
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:«الماء طَهور لا يُنجّسه شيء»
“Water is pure; nothing renders it impure.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud: 66
(Ṣaḥīḥ)Practice of the Companions
The Companions رضي الله عنهم would take the leftover water from the Prophet’s ﷺ Wudu and rub it over their bodies.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 187
Clarification
This was the water with which the Prophet ﷺ had performed Wudu; therefore, the Companions would apply it to their bodies seeking blessing. This is further clarified in other narrations of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.➡ Therefore, used water is pure, and performing Wudu or Ghusl with it is permissible.
Question No. 2
Is it necessary that during Wudu the limbs must not dry before completing Wudu (i.e., must the limbs be washed consecutively without delay)?
Answer:
In the narrations describing the method of Wudu, the washing of limbs is mentioned consecutively. No narrator has mentioned that one limb would dry before the next was washed. Hence, the Sunnah method is to wash the limbs one after another without interruption.Evidence
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ ... ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ(Complete Hadith describing the method of Wudu)
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 185
ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه demonstrated the Wudu of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, washing each limb in sequence without delay.
Warning Against Negligence
«وَيْلٌ لِلْأَعْقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ، أَسْبِغُوا الْوُضُوءَ»“Woe to the heels from the Fire; complete your Wudu properly.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud: 97
➡ Whoever does not wash the limbs consecutively according to the Sunnah should repeat the Wudu, for any act performed contrary to the Sunnah is not acceptable.
The same principle applies to prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي»
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6008
Whether man or woman, the prayer is only acceptable when performed according to the way of the Prophet ﷺ, not according to the method of any later Imam.
Question No. 3
Is it necessary to wash the hands upon exiting the washroom and before performing Wudu?
Answer:
Upon exiting the washroom, it is Sunnah to recite the supplication:«غُفْرَانَكَ»
“(O Allah) I seek Your forgiveness.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud: 30
(Ṣaḥīḥ)Washing the hands at the beginning of Wudu is Sunnah:
«فَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثَلَاثًا»
“He ﷺ washed his hands three times.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 159
➡ Washing the hands at the beginning of Wudu is Sunnah. However, washing hands upon exiting the washroom is not itself part of Wudu. If the question refers to washing hands after Istinjā’, then this is proven from authentic Hadith.
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 358
Question No. 4
What is the prescribed method of using Miswak in the Sunnah?
Answer:
Using the Miswak is Sunnah, but no specific method has been fixed.The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاة»
“Had it not been difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswak at every prayer.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 887
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 252
➡ This shows that using the Miswak is Sunnah, but the angle or direction of usage has not been specified and is left to ease and convenience.
Question No. 5
Where should the supplication be recited after completing Wudu?
Answer:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:«من توضأ فقال: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله فُتِحَتْ له أبواب الجنة الثمانية يدخل من أيها شاء»
“Whoever performs Wudu and says: ‘Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh,’ the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter from whichever he wishes.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 234
➡ It is Sunnah to recite this supplication after completing Wudu. No specific place has been prescribed for it.
Question No. 6
What is the sequence of Wudu according to the Sunnah?
Answer:
Sayyidunā ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه demonstrated Wudu and said that this was the method of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:① Washing the hands three times
② Rinsing the mouth and cleaning the nose
③ Washing the face three times
④ Washing both arms up to the elbows
⑤ Wiping the head
⑥ Washing both feet including the ankles three times
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 159
➡ This is the sequence of Wudu according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Conclusion and Commentary
All these questions have been fully resolved through the Qur’an and Hadith. This proves that the Noble Prophet ﷺ completely conveyed the religion, and no room remains for any Imam or jurist to add anything further.Allah Almighty says:
﴿اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا﴾
“Today I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 3
Challenge to the Deobandi Cleric
A clear challenge to the Deobandi cleric who raised these objections:If these matters are truly not found in the Qur’an and Hadith, then kindly prove them directly from Imam Abu Hanifah with authentic chains of narration.
If not directly from Imam Abu Hanifah, then at least present a reliable book in which these statements are recorded with authentic chains back to him.
Time Granted: Until the Day of Judgment!But the proof must be directly and authentically traced to Imam Abu Hanifah — not from later commentators or unreliable attributions.
