Are We That Keen With Making Wudhu?

Are we that keen with making wudhu?

Or are we among those who are so abrupt on making it like they’re being chased by some tiger? Astagfirullah.

Well, if you are among the latter or somehow do not give much attention to wudhu itself then this story will make you change [I hope] your perspective about it.
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This beautiful story happened during the reign of ‘Uthman Ibn Affan Radiyallahu Anhu as the Caliph.

One day, ‘Uthman Ibn Affan called for water and he did wudhu, rinsing his mouth and nose, then washing his face three times and the tops of his feet.

After that, the caliph gave a mesmerizing smile and said to his companions: Are you not going to ask me why I am smiling?

So the companions asked the caliph: 'Why are you smiling, O Amir ul Mu'mineen?'

So ‘Uthman said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam calling for water near this spot, then he did wudhu as I have done, then he smiled and said:

'أَلأ تَسأَلُونِي عَمَّا أَضْحَكَنِي' 
[Are you not going to ask me why I am smiling?]

They said: 'Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allah?'

He said:

"إِنَّ العَبدَ إِذَا دَعَا بِوَ ضُوءٍ فَغَسَلَ وَجهَهُ، حَطَّ اللَّهُ عَنهُ كُلًّ خَطِيئَةِ أَصَابَهَا بِوَ جهَِهِ، فَإذَا غَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيهِ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ، وَإِن مَسَحَ بِرَأسِهِ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ، وَإِن طَهَّرَ قَد مَيهِ كَانَ كَذَلكَ."

[If a person calls for water for wudhu, and washes his face, Allah will erase every sin caused by his face. When he washes his forearms, the same applies. When he wipes his head, the same applies, and when he cleans his feet, the same applies.]

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Indeed, this story reminds us the excellence of wudhu, that it should not be taken so lightly, for it bears a great amount of expiation of our sins.

By Allah, since I learned this hadith, I never failed to put a smile on my face remembering how the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam smiled.

O my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, indeed, Allah Azza Wa Jall has given us the greatest blessings when He chose us and guided us to be Muslims, so let us honor that and truly such stories like these are nothing but a reminders that gives us utmost pondering of how blessed are we that we are Muslims.

Allahu akbar!

So next time you make wudhu, rejoice, for indeed sins are being washed out from your bodies, for such great amount of expiation takes place! Alhamdulillah.
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And we pray that Allah Azza Wa Jall makes us realize how blessed is it to be that we are Muslims. Aamiin.

-Zohayma-

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Story was taken from:

• Al Mawsu’ah Al Hadeethiyyah, Musnad Ahmad, no. 415 (1/58,559). [Sahih li ghayrihi]
• Ibn Affan, As Sallabi, pp.141-142