Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz, I want to ask, is it a fault if I take my ablution for a long time but it is not my intention to waste water?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In the issue of ablution, there is a narration that states the prohibition of israf (excessiveness) use of water. This is in accordance with a hadith from Abdullah Ibn Amru bin Al Ash R.Anhuma, where he said:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مَرَّ بِسَعْدٍ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا السَّرَفُ " . فَقَالَ أَفِي الْوُضُوءِ إِسْرَافٌ قَالَ " نَعَمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ عَلَى نَهَرٍ جَارٍ
The Messenger of Allah passed by Sa'd when he was performing ablution, and he said: 'What is this extravagance?' He said: 'Can there be any extravagance in ablution?' He said: 'Yes, even if you are on the bank of a flowing river.'"
Sunan Ibn Majah (425)
The above hadith clearly states that israf in ablution is rebuked by the Prophet PBUH, even if there are plenty of water, such as at the sea, river and others.
Syeikh Mulla Ali al-Qari Rahimahullah commented on the above hadith saying: Israf in ablution, whether it is in the actions of the ablution such as washing more than three times for an ablution body part, or israf in the water usage of the said ablution.
He further said: there is no goodness in israf (excessive) and there is no israf in good deeds. He (Abdullah bin Amru) stated that there is no israf in worship and obedience. Then he said: “'Yes, even if you are on the bank of a flowing river.”
The reason is, it will result in someone wasting his time and age. However, there are scholars who differentiate both of them. One of them is Imam al-Jurjani, where he said: Israf is excessive usage of something more than necessary. While wasting is the use of something unnecessary. Refer Al-Ta’rifat, Al-Jurjani (pg. 24).
Suggestions and Conclusion
We would like to close with the following suggestions and statement:
- If someone takes his ablution for a long time because he is doubtful (was-was), then it should be avoided. The reason is, doubt is a disease that should be avoided and it is a necessity to be sure and certain in every worship we performed.
- Even if someone takes his ablution for a long time without the intention of wasting water, he would still waste his time. The reason is, the purpose of ablution is for prayer. Hence, if someone performs the ablution for a long time, then surely, it would delay his prayer and delaying prayer is a bad deed.
Lastly, we would like to state that taking an excessively long time to perform ablution is prohibited. We should complete the washing of the obligatory and sunnah body part for ablution without wasting water and time and delay the prayer. May Allah SWT give us the right understanding for us in practising our religion. Ameen.