What is the ruling on the invocation in ablution, and if it is obligatory, is it excused by forgetfulness? And does one invoke at the end or in the middle of the ablution?
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The questioner : He says: What is the ruling on the invocation in ablution, and if it is obligatory, is it excused by forgetfulness? And if one forgets it, does he invoke at the end or in the middle of the ablution?
The Shaykh : Recently, we were asked this question and answered that the hadith is valid and that it necessitates the invalidity of the ablution of one who leaves the invocation before the ablution. As for one who forgets, our Lord says, "Do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake." And as we mentioned earlier, his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2045Sahih (Darussalam): So, one who forgets the basmalah before the ablution is like one who forgets the invocation before the slaughter; this forgetful person is not held accountable, so his slaughter is lawful and his ablution is valid, and consequently his prayer is valid. As for the last part of the question, it is:
If one forgets the invocation and then remembers it during the ablution, does he invoke?
We say: Yes, he invokes, because he is still performing the ablution. It is valid to say that he invoked over his ablution. This is not the case if he invokes at the end of his ablution. Here, we say what we said earlier regarding the issue of analogical reasoning:
We say that analogical reasoning is the fourth principle of the principles of the Shari'ah. But as Imam al-Shafi'i said: "Analogical reasoning is not applied except out of dire necessity": So, here there is no dire necessity. What is the dire necessity that justifies for us to analogize the invocation after the ablution to the invocation after food? There is an explicit text on the subject:Sahih Ibn Hibban 42:7 We say: There is no dire necessity here for this analogical reasoning. Just as one of us feels that he has forgotten and then remembers during the ablution, he has invoked over the ablution, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
The Shaykh : Recently, we were asked this question and answered that the hadith is valid and that it necessitates the invalidity of the ablution of one who leaves the invocation before the ablution. As for one who forgets, our Lord says, "Do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake." And as we mentioned earlier, his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do.
إن الله وضع عن أمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استكرهوا عليهIf one forgets the invocation and then remembers it during the ablution, does he invoke?
We say: Yes, he invokes, because he is still performing the ablution. It is valid to say that he invoked over his ablution. This is not the case if he invokes at the end of his ablution. Here, we say what we said earlier regarding the issue of analogical reasoning:
We say that analogical reasoning is the fourth principle of the principles of the Shari'ah. But as Imam al-Shafi'i said: "Analogical reasoning is not applied except out of dire necessity": So, here there is no dire necessity. What is the dire necessity that justifies for us to analogize the invocation after the ablution to the invocation after food? There is an explicit text on the subject: