What Do I Do If I Make a Mistake during Wudu?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
When making wudu, do the water and skin have to touch all parts of the body part? If I am washing my hand until my elbow is in wudu, does my left hand have to touch all parts of the right hand until the elbow and back? Also, if we make a mistake in wudu, do we continue from the mistake or re-do the washing? For example, I clean my face when I realize I didn’t wash a particular part. Do I go back and wash it, or do I rewash my whole face with the amount washed this time?
Also, can we wash over parts more than once so that we know it is washed and don’t need to worry? Like when washing my hands up to the elbows, can I clean the elbows multiple times? Finally, if someone backbites, then what happens to them on the day of judgment?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
If dirt is underneath one’s nails, it is not deemed a barrier; thus, your wudu is valid.
However, you must ask yourself if the dark substance did not prevent water from reaching the nail area. Sometimes, we have soft items stuck between our nail bedding, which does not act as a barrier or prevent water from reaching.
One of the conditions of the validity of wudu is water completely encompasses the skin and wets the area. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-idah]
Your hand does not have to encompass every part of the other and vice versa, as long as water reaches and wetness takes place.
You can wash it a few times, but it will lead to anxiety if it’s one more.
If you have doubts leading up to anxiety, wash it three times and leave it; rest assured, your wudu will be valid.
Check this linked answer:
Wet Dreams and Ritual Purity: A Reader – SeekersGuidance
Knowledge
The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan cannot deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise you to find authentic scholars in your area and study an introductory text in Islamic Jurisprudence with them.
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on Seekersguidance?
SeekersGuidance: The Global Islamic Seminary
I pray this helps with your question.
May Allah (Most High) give you ease and relief from the illness.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbabi
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
