Excessive Use of Water in Ablution
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Fatwa No. ( 16292 )
Q: What is the ruling on one who uses a large amount of water for ablution, making it a sa' or more, because he is unable to reduce the amount when he tries, and he believes that less would not be sufficient for his purification? And what is the ruling on a man who, every time he performs ablution, feels that something is about to come out of him, so he holds himself back to prevent it, and sometimes feels that something does come out, but he hears no sound and finds no gas? What is your advice to him? Because he combines the first issue, which is about ablution, with the second, which is about doubt regarding purity.
A: It is recommended to reduce the amount of water used for ablution while ensuring thorough washing, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not permissible to be extravagant with water in ablution or the full ritual bath, due to the prohibition by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of such behavior. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform ablution with a mudd and the full ritual bath with a sa', and he prohibited extravagance with water, as in the hadith of Anas who said:
Bulugh al-Maram 56 It was narrated by Muslim . And what was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to the one performing ablution: Sunan Ibn Majah 424 It was narrated by Ibn Majah . Along with the general evidence regarding the prohibition of extravagance. As for doubt about the release of gas after ablution, it has no effect and does not invalidate the purity; because certainty is not removed by doubt; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the one who asked him about that: Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: What is the ruling on one who uses a large amount of water for ablution, making it a sa' or more, because he is unable to reduce the amount when he tries, and he believes that less would not be sufficient for his purification? And what is the ruling on a man who, every time he performs ablution, feels that something is about to come out of him, so he holds himself back to prevent it, and sometimes feels that something does come out, but he hears no sound and finds no gas? What is your advice to him? Because he combines the first issue, which is about ablution, with the second, which is about doubt regarding purity.
A: It is recommended to reduce the amount of water used for ablution while ensuring thorough washing, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not permissible to be extravagant with water in ablution or the full ritual bath, due to the prohibition by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of such behavior. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform ablution with a mudd and the full ritual bath with a sa', and he prohibited extravagance with water, as in the hadith of Anas who said:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used only one Mudd of water for ablution and one Sa’ to five Mudd of water for his bath
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتوضأ بالمد ويغتسل بالصاع إلى خمسة أمدادDo not be extravagant, do not be extravagant
لا تسرف لا تسرفDo not leave until you hear a sound or find a gas
لا تنصرف حتى تسمع صوتًا أو تجد ريحًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.