By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
29 November 2024

﷽

At East London Mosque, where we continue to spearhead our Faith in Environment campaign, water conservation stands as one of our main priorities. During this week’s Friday sermon, I shared thoughts on wudu (ablution) and its beautiful connection to caring for our environment, a topic that becomes increasingly important across the world.

Wudu holds a special place in our faith that extends beyond ritual preparation for prayer. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ elevated its status by teaching us that

Purification is half of faith.

[Sahih Muslim]

He ﷺ gave us the glad tidings that on the Day of Judgement, those who regularly performed wudu will be distinguished by a unique light emanating from the parts of their body they washed – their faces shall be radiant, their hands shall gleam, and their feet shall shine [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim].

The rewards of proper wudu are remarkable; the Prophet ﷺ told us that when we perform wudu carefully, our sins depart from every part of our body, even from beneath our nails [Sahih Muslim]. 

Walking to the mosque after making wudu at home carries a special virtue. The Prophet ﷺ said that one step erases a sin whilst another raises our rank in Paradise. He also taught us that making wudu at home before walking to the mosque for obligatory prayer brings special rewards [Sahih Muslim].

Yet, with these blessings comes responsibility – particularly in how we use water. Our Prophet ﷺ once saw a companion using too much water for wudu and questioned him about it. When asked whether using too much water in wudu was possible, he ﷺ replied yes – even if one were beside a flowing river [Ibn Majah]. 

It is worth noting that the Prophet ﷺ would complete his wudu using just 650 grams of water (one mudd), and for ghusl (full ritual bath), he would use approximately 2.6 litres (one sa’). This is particularly striking when we consider how we often leave taps running whilst making wudu, wasting water that Allah has blessed us with. This practice contradicts both our religious teachings and environmental responsibility.

The Qur’an clearly warns us about waste: “Be not excessive; indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” [7:31] This applies to everything we do, including our use of water for wudu. When we consider that millions worldwide lack access to clean water, our responsibility to conserve becomes even more urgent.

Another important aspect of wudu is the use of miswak (toothstick). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Had I not found it difficult for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with miswak for every prayer.” [Sahih al-Bukhari] This sunnah not only maintains oral hygiene but also enhances the spiritual experience of our prayers and other members of the congregation.

There is a special prayer for those who do their wudu properly whilst being mindful with water. The Prophet ﷺ taught us to recite after completing wudu:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh

The Prophet ﷺ promised that whoever performs wudu perfectly and recites this prayer sincerely, all eight gates of Paradise will be opened for them [Sahih Muslim].

In our mosque, we are implementing practical measures to help our community conserve water during wudu. We have installed water-saving taps and placed reminders about water conservation near ablution areas. These efforts align perfectly with both our religious duties and environmental responsibilities.

Let us revive these teachings in our daily lives. We can perfect our wudu whilst being mindful of how much water we use, joining our religious duties with caring for the environment. This is how we can best serve both our faith and our duty to look after Allah’s creation. Every drop of water saved is a step towards better environmental stewardship.

May Allah make us among those who purify themselves both outwardly and inwardly, and may He accept our efforts in preserving His precious resources. 

Ameen.

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