I am a woman who doubts the validity of my wudu' a great deal; I find myself repeating it over and over until I am filled with despair regarding the validity of the wudu'

The questioner : She says: This woman says: I am a woman who doubts the validity of my wudu' a great deal; I find myself repeating it over and over

The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah

The questioner : until I am filled with despair regarding the validity of the wudu'. What is the solution in your opinion, O honorable Shaykh?

The Shaykh : The solution is that every person knows how many times they washed their limbs. If you wash them once, that is sufficient. If you repeat the washing a second time, it is more complete. If you repeat it a third time, it is more complete. If you repeat it a fourth time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do you wish to be characterized by these traits of doing wrong, transgressing, and being unjust? No one wishes for this. Therefore, cut off the rope of Satan. If you have washed three times, leave the washing place, seek help from Allah, and pray. I am confident that the one afflicted with this obsessive doubt—may Allah protect us and you from it—is confident that Satan will say to him: You did not pray, you did not perform the obligatory prayer, you did not perform a pillar of Islam, if you die in this state you will die other than on the fitrah. He will say things like this, but do not let it concern you. Seek refuge in Allah and say: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, and it will end. Let him know that Allah the Exalted knows him and will ask him: Why did you exceed what was reported from your Messenger? What was reported from your Messenger? Answer: What was reported was three times, not twenty times? Three times. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be asked: What made you increase beyond what your Messenger said? Are you better than he? Did my Messenger fall short in conveying it to you? He did not fall short. He (peace and blessings be upon him) performed wudu' once, and twice, and three times, to make it clear to his Ummah that all of this is permissible, and praise be to Allah. Therefore, we say to this woman: Fear Allah regarding yourself, restrict yourself to three times, and stand up while saying to yourself: The wudu' is not complete. Pray while saying to yourself: My prayer is not complete. Do not let the whispers of Satan concern you. This will be difficult for her for a week or two weeks, or a month or two months. The work in this will be harder for her than carrying heavy weights. But let her seek help from Allah and stand firm against the enemy of Allah, and let her seek help from Allah above all else. Yes.