Extracts from lessons given by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) on the rulings and etiquettes of purification. Habib Umar is teaching Habib Abdullah bin Husayn Balfaqih’s “Kifayat al-Raghib” in Shafi`i fiqh.

Wudu is the weapon of the believer, and is a means of protection. It is recommended to be constantly in a state of wudu, and this is one of the etiquettes of the seeker on the path to Allah. If harm comes to you when you are not in a state of wudu, then only blame yourself.

If you are in a state of wudu and have already performed a prayer with that wudu, it is recommended to renew your wudu to perform another prayer, whether the prayer is obligatory or recommended.

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ? would perform wudu for the obligatory prayer regardless of whether he was already in a state of purity or not. Sayyiduna `Umar and Sayyiduna `Ali would perform wudu for each obligatory prayer, even if they were already in a state of wudu. They would recite the verse:

‘O you who believe, when you rise to perform the prayer, wash your faces..’ (5:6)

It has also been narrated that the Prophet ? would perform two, three or even four obligatory prayers without renewing his wudu.

On the Farewell Pilgrimage he prayed Zuhr and `Asr at `Arafah and Maghrib and `Isha at Muzdalifah and it is not narrated that he performed wudu between those two times.