Ninth Hadeeth

Nu‘aym ibn Al-Mujmir narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjaleen" from the trace of Wudoo’ (i.e. Ablution) and thus whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).” (1).

In another wording, he said:  “I saw Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, perform ablution. He washed his face and washed his hands up to the arms. He then washed his feet and reached up to the shanks and then said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, say: ‘My people would come with bright faces and bright hands and feet on account of the marks of ablution, so he who can increase the luster of his forehead (and that of his hands and legs) should do so.” (2).

In a third wording reported by Imam Muslim, he (i.e. Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I have heard my Friend, peace and blessing be upon him, say: ‘In a believer adornment would reach the places where ablution reaches.” (3).

This is a great Hadeeth that encourages doing ablution well. In the following points, we will touch upon the benefits and issues it has stated.

Firstly, as for the Prophet’s saying (…my followers…), it refers to those who accepted the message that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, came with i.e. Muslims. It also may refer to the nation of invitation; however, this is not meant here.

As for his saying: (…will be called…), it means they will be called or named.

As for his saying (…Ghurran...) by putting Dhammah on Al-Ghayn, it is the plural form of Agharr i.e. the one who has brightness in his face. It originally refers to the brightness in the face of the horse and then used in beauty, fame, and good reputation. Here it means the brightness and radiance exist in the faces of the followers of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, due to the traces of ablution. This was expressed by Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar, may Allaah have mercy upon him.

As for his saying (…Muhajjaleen…) from the Arabic word At-Tahjeel which means the brightness exists in three legs of the horse. Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “It is originally derived from the Arabic word Al-Hajal which is Al-Khulkhaal which also refers to brightness here.”

The prominent scholars Ibn Al-Mulaqqin, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “Ghurrah is brightness in the face of the horse while At-Tahjeel is brightness in its hands and legs and thus the radiance covers the parts of ablution on the Day of Resurrection is called Ghurrah and Tahjeel.” Then he, may Allaah have mercy upon him, added: “What is meant by Ghurrah here is washing something of the forehead and what is next to the limits of the face, beyond the parts that should be washed so that the face may be fully washed. As for Tahjeel, it refers to washing what is beyond elbows and ankles.”

Secondly, as for his saying, (…from the trace of Wudoo’ (i.e. Ablution)…), it can refer to the action of Wudoo’ or the water itself used in ablution. Actually, the two meanings are possible here.

Ibn Daqeeq Al-‘Eed, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “As for his saying: (…and thus whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly), it means that one should increase the brightness of his face and legs by increasing washing areas of his face and legs; however, he, peace and blessing be upon him, confined to mentioning the brightness of the face but not the brightness of the legs for it is already indicated such as the saying of Allaah The Almighty: {…and has made for you garments which protect you from the heat…} [Quran 16: 81] meaning ‘and protect you from the coldness’. 

As for this sentence (…and thus whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly), is it from the words of the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, or from the words of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him? Ibn Hajar, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “It seems that it is the remaining words of the Hadeeth.” However, Imam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, reported it from the route of Faleeh from Nu‘aym and at the end of it: Nu‘aym said, I did not know whether his saying (…and thus whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly) is from the words of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, or Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him. I have not seen this addition (referring to ‘whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so) in any of those who narrated this Hadeeth, who happen to be ten companions, or those who reported this Hadeeth from Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, except in the narration of Nu’aym. Allaah Knows best.” End quote

Thirdly, from this Hadeeth, it appears that it is preferable to wash more than the obligated areas that need to be washed during Wudoo’ such as the face, hands and legs. This means that one increases washing areas of his face i.e. washes a part from the neck; increases washing areas of his hand i.e. washes a part from the upper arm; increases washing areas of his legs i.e. washes a part from his leg. This recommendation is the opinion of the majority of the Muslim scholars. However, they differed how further a person should increase washing areas of each Wudoo’ part. Some of them said one should increase washing areas up to the shoulder and knees. Ibn Hajar, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “It was authentically reported from Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, by narration and opinion.” It was also said, the increase should be to up to the half of the upper arm and leg. A third opinion believes that one should wash more than this.

Imam Maalik and in one narration reported by Imam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon them, stated that it is not preferable to wash beyond the limits of obligated areas that need to be washed at Wudoo’. This is the opinion that has been acknowledged by Sheykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon them. Thus, the one who performs ablution should confine to the limits of the face, hand, and legs. They even said: “…and thus whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so” is from the words of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, and not from the words of the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him. Moreover, it was not reported that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, washed more than the obligated parts of Wudoo’ although many companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, reported the way of his ablution. This Hadeeth refers to the brightness that will cover the parts of ablution on the Day of Resurrection. Those scholars are of the opinion that the last sentence is from the words of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, according to his understanding.

Accordingly, it appears that it is not preferable to exceed the limits of the obligatory washed parts of Wudoo’. However, one has to make sure of washing face, hands and legs along with their prescribed limits. Allaah Knows best.

Fourthly, this Hadeeth refers to the great virtue of Wudoo’, because its traces and effects appear on the believers on the Day of Resurrection and thus their organs (washed in ablution) will have great brightness that can be clearly seen. They will be called and stand before all creation while their faces and hands have great brightness due to the effects of such great act of worship i.e. Wudoo’. 

__________________________

1) Reported by Imam Al-Bukhaari in the Book of Wudoo’, the Chapter of the virtues of Wudoo’, no. 136, 1/71 – 72, and Imam Muslim in the Book of Tahaarah (i.e. purification), the Chapter of the Recommendation of it is commendable to include forehead in washing the face and elbow and ankle in washing the hands and feet, while performing ablution 1/216, no. 246.

2) Reported by Imam Muslim in the chapter stated above.

3)  ibid.

Add comment