Wudu with cold or warm water

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the water is cold but will not harm the user then one should do wudu with what is available. If one has the facility to warm the water to a temperate level, there is no restriction to use this warmed water to make wudu. In Islam there is no ajr in unnecessarily bearing pain (penance) in accomplishing an act. Wudu is prescribed to cleanse oneself and be available for prayer. It is important to make the wudu properly without hurrying.

Tayyammum is allowed only when water is not available at all. Also if there is fear of the cold water harming the one using it then one can safely do tayyammum and be available for prayer.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline