Wudhu.....more than just a ritual
Allah, the Exalted, says:
"O you who believe! When you intend to offer Salaah (prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, wipe (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e., after a s.e.x.u.a .l discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey, or any of you comes from responding to the call of nature, or you have been in contact with your women (i.e., s.e.x.u.a .l intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour to you that you may be thankful.'' (Qur'an Surah 5, verse 6)
`Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) performing Wudhu' the way I have just done it and said, "He who performs Wudhu' like this, his previous sins will be forgiven and his Salat and walking to the masjid will be considered as supererogatory act of worship.'' [Muslim].
Commentary:
Wudhu' is a means of remission of minor sins, provided those sins are not related to the rights of people because they too will not be forgiven without penitence and compensating the aggrieved or the wronged.
To perform Wudhu' at home before proceeding to the masjid for Salat is highly meritorious. He who does so, will be purged of minor sins. Then his going to the masjid and performance of Salat there, is a means for gaining further reward.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face (in the course of Wudhu'), every sin which he committed with his eyes, will be washed away from his face with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin which is committed by his hands will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water; until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins.'' [Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith has the same meaning mentioned in the preceding Ahadith. That is to say, such minor sins are washed off by Wudhu'. In other words, Wudu' is a means of purification of the body as well as the soul.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) went to the (Baqi`) cemetery and said, "May you be secured from punishment, O dwellers of abode of the believers! We, if Allah wills, will follow you. I wish we see my brothers.'' The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah! Are we not your brothers?'' He (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not come into the world yet.'' They said; "O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those of your Ummah who are not born yet?'' He (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Say, if a man has white-footed horses with white foreheads among horses which are pure black, will he not recognize his own horses?'' They said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!'' He (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "They (my followers) will come with bright faces and white limbs because of Wudhu'; and I will arrive at the Haud (Al-Kauthar) ahead of them.'' [Muslim].
Commentary:
On the principle "The believers are brothers'' that is manifested in Surat Al-Hujurat of the Qur'an (49:10), the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) regarded all the successive generations of Muslims as his brothers. His Companions have an added distinction that they are his brothers as well as his companions.
This Hadith also mentions Haud Al-Kauthar which is awarded to the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) on the Day of Requital, and he will give water from it to his followers after which they will never feel thirst. Those who invent innovations in religion, will be deprived of this honour, as is evident from other narratives.
Farat is a person who goes ahead of the others in the caravan and makes arrangements for the encampment and provisions of the caravan. It is a unique distinction of the Muslims that the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) will be holding that position on the Day of Requital.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Shall I not tell you something by which Allah effaces the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?'' The Companions said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.'' He (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Performing the Wudhu' thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the masjid, and waiting for the next Salat ( prayer) after observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.'' [Muslim].
Commentary:
Hardship and unpleasantness here stand for the uneasiness that one feels while performing Wudhu' in severe cold. Ar-Ribat means watching the frontiers or battlefront to check the invasion of the enemy. To wait for the next Salat after offering a Salat is regarded as Ribat for the reason that by so doing, a person who is particular in offering Salat keeps himself constantly engaged in the obedience and worship of Allah to keep Satan away from him.
`Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever of you performs Wudu' carefully and then affirms: `Ash-hadu al la ilaha illallahu Wahdahu la sharika Lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa Rasuluhu [I testify that there is no true god except Allah Alone, Who has no partners and that Muhammad ((Peace and blessings be upon him) is His slave and Messenger],' the eight gates of Jannah are opened for him. He may enter through whichever of these gates he desires (to enter).'' [Muslim].
Source: Riyaadus Saaliheen: Chapter on Merits of Ablution
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