Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When any one of you sleeps, Satan ties three knots at the back of his neck. He recites this incantation at every knot: ‘You have a long night, so sleep.’ If he awakes and remembers Allah, one knot is loosened. If he performs Wudu’, the (second) knot is loosened; and if he performs prayer, (all) knots are loosened. He begins his morning in a happy and refreshed mood; otherwise, he gets up in bad spirits and sluggish state.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Imam An Nawawi said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim:

“That which is apparent from the narration is that the one who doesn’t combine between these three affairs, and they are:

  • Remembrance of Allah
  • Ablution
  • Prayer

then he enters into the one who gets up in bad spirits and a lazy state”

[Sifat Wudu an Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم page 28]

Thus based on that narration and others, Ibn Hajr and others mention the correct stance is that Wudu isn’t specific to this nation. Rather, that which is specific to this nation is the brightness on the forehead, arms, and legs on that day.

Translated by

Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl