Does heedlessness invalidate the ablution, and is it obligatory for the Muslim to perform a complete ablution in this case?
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The questioner : Does heedlessness invalidate the ablution, and is it obligatory for the Muslim to perform a complete ablution in this case?
The Shaykh : I do not know what he means by heedlessness. Does he mean sleep? If he means sleep, then sleep invalidates the ablution, provided that it is deep. The sign of deep sleep is that the sleeper does not realize if he passes wind. So if a person sleeps this kind of sleep, meaning he sleeps a sleep in which he would not realize if he passed wind, then he must perform the ablution. This is based on the hadith of Safwan ibn 'Asal, who said: And in the hadith: Bulugh al-Maram 80 So if the questioner means by heedlessness sleep, this is the answer to him.
But if the sleep is light, and the person realizes if he passes wind, then it does not invalidate the ablution, whether the person is sitting, lying down, leaning, or not leaning. Because the whole criterion is the mind, understanding the thing and comprehending it.
As for if he means by heedlessness being heedless of the remembrance of Allah, then this does not invalidate the ablution. But what a person should do is to persist in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted at all times, for this is the mind. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:190-191].
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad, and may He magnify your reward. Our dear listening brothers, our meeting was with His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymeen, the professor at the College of Sharia in al-Qasim, and the preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of 'Unayzah. Thank you for your good follow-up. May we meet again by the permission of Allah the Exalted. Peace be upon you and His mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : I do not know what he means by heedlessness. Does he mean sleep? If he means sleep, then sleep invalidates the ablution, provided that it is deep. The sign of deep sleep is that the sleeper does not realize if he passes wind. So if a person sleeps this kind of sleep, meaning he sleeps a sleep in which he would not realize if he passed wind, then he must perform the ablution. This is based on the hadith of Safwan ibn 'Asal, who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us, when we were traveling, not to remove our leather socks except from major ritual impurity, but from passing wind, urination, and sleep.
أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كنا سفراً أن لا ننزع خفافنا إلا من جنابة ولكن من غائط وبول ونومThe eye (when awake) is the string of the anus (to stop air escaping), and if the two eyes sleep the string is untied
العين وكاء السه فإذا نامت العينان استطلق الوكاءBut if the sleep is light, and the person realizes if he passes wind, then it does not invalidate the ablution, whether the person is sitting, lying down, leaning, or not leaning. Because the whole criterion is the mind, understanding the thing and comprehending it.
As for if he means by heedlessness being heedless of the remembrance of Allah, then this does not invalidate the ablution. But what a person should do is to persist in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted at all times, for this is the mind. Allah the Exalted said:
(190) Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (191) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
إن في خلق السماوات والأرض واختلاف الليل والنهار لآيات لأولي الألباب ، الذين يذكرون الله قياماً وقعوداً وعلى جنوبهم ويتفكرون في خلق السماوات والأرض ربنا ما خلقت هذا باطلاً سبحانك فقنا عذاب النارThe questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad, and may He magnify your reward. Our dear listening brothers, our meeting was with His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymeen, the professor at the College of Sharia in al-Qasim, and the preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of 'Unayzah. Thank you for your good follow-up. May we meet again by the permission of Allah the Exalted. Peace be upon you and His mercy and blessings.