This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
"O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful."
Reference: (5-Al-Ma'idah:6)
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
”إذا توضأ العبد المسلم أو المؤمن فغسل وجهه خرج من وجهه كل خطيئة نظر إليها بعينيه مع الماء أو مع آخر قطر الماء فإذا غسل يديه خرج من يديه كل خطيئة كان بطشتها يداه مع الماء أو مع آخر قطر الماء فإذا غسل رجليه خرجت كل خطيئة مشتها رجلاه مع الماء أو مع آخر قطر الماء حتى يخرج نقيا من الذنوب“.
"When a Muslim or a believer performs ablution and washes his face, with the water used or the last drop of water, all the sins he committed with his eyes are washed away. Then when he washes his hands, with the water used or the last drop of water, all the sins committed by his hands are removed. Then when he washes his feet, with the water used or the last drop of water, all the sins committed by walking with his feet are forgiven, until he becomes pure and free from sins."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Removal of Sins with the Water of Ablution, No: 244.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) says:
”سمعت خليلي ﷺ يقول: تبلغ الحلية من المؤمن حيث يبلغ الوضوء“.
"I heard my beloved (PBUH) say: (In Paradise) the adornment of a believer will reach as far as the ablution reaches."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Adornment Reaches Where Ablution Reaches, No: 250.
Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) says:
”رأيت رسول الله ﷺ توضأ مثل وضوئي هذا ثم قال: من توضأ هكذا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه وكانت صلاته ومشيه إلى المسجد نافلة“.
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) performing ablution like this, then he said: Whoever performs ablution like this, his minor sins are forgiven, and his prayer and the reward of walking to the mosque are an added blessing."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Virtue of Ablution and Prayer Afterwards, No: 229.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) says:
أن رسول الله أتى المقبرة فقال: السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين . وإنا، إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، وددت أنا قد رأينا إخواننا . قالوا أولسنا إخوانك يا رسول الله؟ قال: أنتم أصحابي، وإخواننا الذين لم يأتوا بعد فقالوا: كيف تعرف من لم يأت بعد من أمتك يا رسول الله؟ فقال: أرأيت لو أن رجلا له خيل غر محجلة بين ظهري خيل دهم بهم، ، ألا يرف خيله؟ قالوا بلى يا رسول الله! قال: فإنهم يـاتون غرا محجلين من الوضوء ، وأنا فرطهم على الحوض .
The beloved Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to the Baqi cemetery and said: "Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of faith! And we, if Allah wills, will join you. I wish to see our brothers." The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! Are we not your brothers?" He (PBUH) said: "You are my companions, and our brothers are those who have not yet come." The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those people of your Ummah who have not yet come?" He said: "Tell me, if a man has horses whose foreheads and legs are white and they are among pure black horses, will he not recognize his horses?" The Companions said, "Why not, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "(The people who come after me) will come on the Day of Resurrection with their foreheads, hands, and feet shining because of ablution, and I will be their leader at the Pond (Al-Kawthar)."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Recommendation of Lengthening the Forelock and the Heel, No: 249
Performing complete ablution even in severe cold weather is also a cause for the removal of sins and elevation of ranks. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Shall I not tell you of deeds by which Allah removes sins and raises ranks?" The Companions said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah! Please tell us." He (PBUH) said: "Performing complete ablution in heat and hardship, walking more steps towards the mosque, and waiting for the next prayer after one prayer—this is Ribat, this is Ribat, this is Ribat."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Virtue of Following Ablution Despite Hardship, No: 251/41.
Benefit: Hardship here refers to severe cold and physical discomfort or other conditions in which a person finds ablution difficult. Since the one who regularly performs these acts hopes for forgiveness of sins, increase in good deeds, and entry into Paradise from Allah, the Prophet (PBUH) likened him to those who engage in Jihad against the enemy in the way of Allah, as they also bind themselves to fight the enemy hoping for martyrdom and forgiveness. Some scholars believe these acts are called Ribat because they prevent people from sins and disobedience. And Allah knows best.
Reference: Al-Matjar Al-Rabih: 58/1-59.
◈The Reward of Maintaining Wudu
Sayyiduna Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Adopt steadfastness, you can never encompass good deeds, and know that the best deed is prayer. A believer always maintains wudu."
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Purification and its Sunnahs, Chapter on Maintaining Wudu, No: 277 – Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, No: 192.
◈The Virtue of Reciting Dua After Wudu
Narrated by Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever among you recites this dua after completing wudu:
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله
"Then for him, the eight gates of Paradise are opened, and he may enter through whichever he wishes."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter on the Recommended Remembrance After Wudu, No: 234/17.
◈The Reward of Praying Two Rak'ahs After Wudu
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Whoever performs the best ablution, then prays two rak'ahs, and does not become heedless during it, his previous sins are forgiven."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Disliking Whispers and Self-Doubt, Hadith Number: 905 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله has graded it as "Hasan".
