❖ Sunnah Occasions of Wudu’ and the Prophetic Practice ﷺ ❖
✍ Compiled by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The Prophetic Practice ﷺ:
The Prophet ﷺ performed wudu’ before doing ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah.
[Bukhārī: al-Ḥajj, 1614; Muslim: 1235]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Ṭawāf around the Kaʿbah is like Ṣalāh, except that you are allowed to speak in it — so do not speak except good.”
[Tirmidhī: Abwāb al-Ḥajj, 960]
Scholarly View:
Many scholars consider wudu’ wājib (compulsory) for ṭawāf.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“None should touch the Qur’an except one who is ṭāhir (pure).”
[Muwaṭṭa’: 534; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl]
✔ Many muḥaddithīn interpret “ṭāhir” as being in the state of wudu’.
Practice of the Companions:
Said bin Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) instructed his son to perform wudu’ before touching the Qur’an.
[Muwaṭṭa’: 1/200; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl]
Incident:
When the Prophet ﷺ was greeted while relieving himself, he did not reply. After finishing, he performed wudu’, then responded to the salām, saying:
“I disliked remembering Allah while not in a state of purity.”
[Abū Dāwūd: Ṭahārah, 17; Ibn Mājah: 350; Ḥākim: 1/172; authenticated by al-Dhahabī and Nawawī]
Another narration:
Abū Juhm (رضي الله عنه) reported that someone greeted the Prophet ﷺ while he was not in wudu’. The Prophet ﷺ did not respond until he had done tayammum with the wall, then responded.
[Bukhārī: 333; Muslim: 546]
Practice of Bilāl (رضي الله عنه):
He would perform wudu’ before calling the adhān.
[Abū Dāwūd: Kitāb al-Kharāj, 1505]
Incident:
An Anṣārī Companion came to the Prophet ﷺ with dripping wet hair. The Prophet ﷺ asked, “Did you bathe in a hurry?”
He replied, “Yes.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you are in a hurry, performing wudu’ is enough.”
[Bukhārī: Wuḍūʾ, 182; Muslim: 305]
Sayyidunā ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) asked:
“What if I am in a state of janābah at night?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Wash your private parts, perform wudu’, and then sleep.”
[Bukhārī: Ghusl, 290; Muslim: 603]
The Prophet’s Habit ﷺ:
In a state of janābah, before eating or sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ would perform wudu’ like for prayer.
[Bukhārī: Ghusl, 282; Muslim: 305]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“If one has intercourse with his wife and wants to do it again, he should perform wudu’ between the two acts.”
[Muslim: 308]
The Habit of the Prophet ﷺ:
Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to perform wudu’ before every prayer.”
[Bukhārī: Wuḍūʾ, 214]
✔ Although this point is included in the list, its detail is not provided in the narration above.
If needed, references can be provided separately.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you go to bed, perform wudu’ like that for prayer.”
[Bukhārī: 247] — Ḥadīth of al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib (رضي الله عنه)
❶ Ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah
❷ Touching the Qur’an
❸ Remembering Allah (Dhikr)
❹ Before Adhān
❺ Sleeping or eating in state of janābah
❻ Performing wudu’ for every ṣalāh
❼ Wudu’ before obligatory ghusl
❽ Wudu’ before sleeping
✍ Compiled by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
➊ Wudu’ Before Ṭawāf (Circumambulation of the Kaʿbah)
The Prophetic Practice ﷺ:
The Prophet ﷺ performed wudu’ before doing ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah.
[Bukhārī: al-Ḥajj, 1614; Muslim: 1235]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Ṭawāf around the Kaʿbah is like Ṣalāh, except that you are allowed to speak in it — so do not speak except good.”
[Tirmidhī: Abwāb al-Ḥajj, 960]
Scholarly View:
Many scholars consider wudu’ wājib (compulsory) for ṭawāf.
➋ Wudu’ Before Touching the Noble Qur’an
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“None should touch the Qur’an except one who is ṭāhir (pure).”
[Muwaṭṭa’: 534; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl]
✔ Many muḥaddithīn interpret “ṭāhir” as being in the state of wudu’.
Practice of the Companions:
Said bin Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه) instructed his son to perform wudu’ before touching the Qur’an.
[Muwaṭṭa’: 1/200; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl]
➌ Wudu’ for the Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)
Incident:
When the Prophet ﷺ was greeted while relieving himself, he did not reply. After finishing, he performed wudu’, then responded to the salām, saying:
“I disliked remembering Allah while not in a state of purity.”
[Abū Dāwūd: Ṭahārah, 17; Ibn Mājah: 350; Ḥākim: 1/172; authenticated by al-Dhahabī and Nawawī]
Another narration:
Abū Juhm (رضي الله عنه) reported that someone greeted the Prophet ﷺ while he was not in wudu’. The Prophet ﷺ did not respond until he had done tayammum with the wall, then responded.
[Bukhārī: 333; Muslim: 546]
➍ Wudu’ Before the Adhān
Practice of Bilāl (رضي الله عنه):
He would perform wudu’ before calling the adhān.
[Abū Dāwūd: Kitāb al-Kharāj, 1505]
➎ Wudu’ Before Sleeping or Eating While in a State of Janābah
Incident:
An Anṣārī Companion came to the Prophet ﷺ with dripping wet hair. The Prophet ﷺ asked, “Did you bathe in a hurry?”
He replied, “Yes.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you are in a hurry, performing wudu’ is enough.”
[Bukhārī: Wuḍūʾ, 182; Muslim: 305]
Sayyidunā ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) asked:
“What if I am in a state of janābah at night?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Wash your private parts, perform wudu’, and then sleep.”
[Bukhārī: Ghusl, 290; Muslim: 603]
The Prophet’s Habit ﷺ:
In a state of janābah, before eating or sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ would perform wudu’ like for prayer.
[Bukhārī: Ghusl, 282; Muslim: 305]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“If one has intercourse with his wife and wants to do it again, he should perform wudu’ between the two acts.”
[Muslim: 308]
➏ Performing Wudu’ for Every Ṣalāh
The Habit of the Prophet ﷺ:
Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to perform wudu’ before every prayer.”
[Bukhārī: Wuḍūʾ, 214]
➐ Wudu’ Before Ghusl (No Detailed Reference Mentioned Here)
✔ Although this point is included in the list, its detail is not provided in the narration above.
If needed, references can be provided separately.
➑ Wudu’ Before Sleeping
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you go to bed, perform wudu’ like that for prayer.”
[Bukhārī: 247] — Ḥadīth of al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib (رضي الله عنه)
Summary: Acts for Which Wudu’ Is Sunnah
❶ Ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah
❷ Touching the Qur’an
❸ Remembering Allah (Dhikr)
❹ Before Adhān
❺ Sleeping or eating in state of janābah
❻ Performing wudu’ for every ṣalāh
❼ Wudu’ before obligatory ghusl
❽ Wudu’ before sleeping
