Forgetting to wash an organ during ablution
Fatwa No: 89053

Question

If at the time of Wudu if we forget something as per the rules of Wudu so we will have to do again from the starting. And if at the time of Wudu if we forget instead of three times only twice we did so the Wudu will be completed if instead of three times with by mistake we did four times is this accepted, and by which things the Wudu will not be remain by telling lie, or laughing, and seeing the movies, or by the playing games, etc. If we did the Wudu at the time of Thuhr and this will be remain till Asr time.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

During his ablution, if one forgets to wash an organ which is compulsory to be washed in ablution like the face for example, he should wash that organ, and then wash all the other organs in sequence that are washed after that organ in ablution. Washing the parts following that organ in sequence is mandatory for the ablution to be valid.

For instance, if one remembers after wiping over his head that he did not wash his face, he has to wash his face, then his hands to the elbows, and then he has to repeat wiping over his head. Doing so is allowed, if one remembers it during ablution or before the organs dry. If one remembers after the organs become dry then he has to repeat the entire ablution, since continuation in washing the organs during ablution is compulsory, according to the most correct opinion,

As for your question is washing twice instead washing thrice correct or not? Yes, washing each part of ablution once, twice and thrice is allowed in Islam as proved through sound narrations. It is also allowed to wash some organs once, some of them twice or thrice. However, washing thrice is more perfect but washing only once is allowed.

Washing more than three times is not allowed according to the preponderant opinion of Muslim scholars for the narration on 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr that "A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allaah and asked him about the ablution. He showed him how to wash each part three times and said, 'This is the ablution. Whoever does more than that has done wrong, transgressed and committed evil." [Ahmad]

As for your query "does ablution become null by telling a lie …", ablution is not broken by telling lies, or by laughing during prayers, or outside the prayers, or by watching movies. To know the nullifiers of ablution, please read the Fatwa: 84093.

We inform you that watching films that contains unveiling, mixing, women, etc. is not allowed since a Muslim is ordered to lower his gaze. Allaah says (which means): {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allaah is Acquainted with what they do.}[24:30].

As for your saying: "if we do the ablution at the time of Thuhr…" we say that if a Muslim makes ablution it is not nullified by length of time but rather by those nullifiers mentioned in the referred Fatwa. So, if one makes ablution at Fajr and keeps it until 'Ishaa', he may perform 'Ishaa' prayer by that ablution but it is better to renew the ablution for each prayer for the saying of the Prophet who said: "If I had not found it hard for my nation, I would have ordered them to perform ablution for every prayer." [Ahmad]

Allaah knows best.

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