Question:
- What is the Ruling if someone makes wudoo and forgets to wash a body part?
Answer:
- If someone makes wudoo and forgets a body part and he remembers shortly after, then he washes that part and then continues with that which comes after it. An example of this is when someone forgets to wash their left arm after they washed their right hand. So they go straight to the wiping of the head and ears. They then proceed to wiping washing the two feet. So, when they finish from washing the two feet, they remember that they did not wash their left arm. So we say to this person to wash their left arm, then wipe over their head and ears, then to wash their feet. We made it an obligation on him to repeat the wiping of his head and ears, and the washing of his feet because these things must be done in order. The wudoo has to be done in the same order that Allah mentioned the parts in when He said:
{فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ}
Translated this means { … wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles … (Al-Ma’idah 5:6)}.
- If he does not remember except after a long period of time, then he repeats the wudoo from the beginning. This is shown when someone makes wudoo and forgets to wash his left arm. Then he completes his wudoo and walks away, so much that a long period of time passes. Then he remembers that he did not wash his left hand. So it is obligatory on this individual to repeat his wudoo from the beginning because he was not able to do all of these actions one after the other. This is because doing these actions, one after the other, is a condition for the acceptance of his wudoo. But know , that if he has doubt about this, meaning he is not sure if he washed his left or right arm, or rinse his mouth and nose, then he does not pay attention to this doubt. Rather he continues and even prays. There is no problems or concerns for him in this situation. That is because doubt in terms of worship after completing it does not count. This is because if we say that it matters, then we would open the door of the wipers of the shaytan upon the people. Then everyone would begin to doubt about his worship. So from Allah’s mercy, is that the doubt that comes after one completes his worship, then he does not have to worry about it unless he is positive that he left it off. This is because he has to have this thing (that he is sure that he left off). And Allah knows best.
[Taken from Fatawah Arkan al Islam by Sheikh Uthaimeen]
[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]
