Is the Presence of Heart Necessary During Wudu?

Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Question

Is it necessary to have the presence of the heart during wudu (ablution)?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

Intention in Wudu

It is well known that acts of worship are only complete and valid with the intention, as explained by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) when he said:

“Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have what they intended.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Scholars differ on whether intention is a pillar of these acts.

Wudu is an act of worship, as Allah (Most High) commands in the verse:

“O believers! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles.” [Quran, 5:6]

Purpose and Virtues of Wudu

In general, acts of worship yield their fruits when one understands their purpose. Many hadiths highlight the virtues of wudu. For instance, ‘Abdullah Sunabihi narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“When a believing servant performs wudu and rinses their mouth, their sins leave from their mouth. When they clean their nostrils, their sins leave from their nostrils. When they wash their face, the sins leave from their face, even beneath their eyelashes. When they wash their hands, the sins leave from their hands, even from beneath their nails. When they wipe their head, the sins leave from their head, even from their ears. When they wash their feet, the sins leave from their feet, even from beneath their toenails. Then, as they walk to the mosque and pray, it becomes a source of extra reward for them.” [Malik; Hakim; Ahmad]

Spiritual Reflection

It is reported that ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (Allah be pleased with him) would turn pale when performing wudu. His family asked, “What happens to you during wudu?” He replied, “Do you know before whom I am about to stand?” [Ghazali, Ihya’]

Imam Ghazali said:

“After completing wudu and beginning the prayer, one should be mindful that they have purified their external body, which is visible to people. However, they should be ashamed to engage in intimate conversation with Allah (Most High) without purifying their heart, which is seen by the Lord. Purifying the heart involves repentance and cleansing oneself of blameworthy traits, adopting praiseworthy ones. Limiting oneself to external purification is akin to inviting a king to one’s house while leaving it filled with filth, merely focusing on decorating the outer door.” [Ibid.]

Conclusion

Having the heart present during wudu is not a condition for its validity. The intention made at the time of washing the face suffices.

May Allah benefit us through our acts of worship and enable us to perform them in the best manner. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.

He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.

He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.

Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.