Is It Enough to Put a Limb Under Running Water to Have It Washed in Order to Complete Wudu or a Ritual Bath?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum,

1. During wudu if I place my face under running/flowing tap water have I washed my face thoroughly or do I have to wash it three separate times?

2. If for ghusl I follow all the steps from beginning up until wudu and after that I only rub and wash my body once under a shower is that sufficient?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

(1) Washing a limb in flowing water is akin to continual washing. Therefore, if you keep the entire limb in the water for approximately three seconds or so, it is as if you have washed it thrice.

(2) Yes, if you wash your entire body, including mouth and nose, once, your ritual bath (ghusl) would be valid, regardless of whether you performed the sunna actions or not. However, leaving the sunna intentionally and without genuine excuse would be considered disliked and blameworthy.

Please also see: The Ritual Bath (ghusl): Obligatory, Recommended, and Disliked Acts

Consider taking the following free class at SeekersGuidance: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Basic Hanafi Jurisprudence (STEP)

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani