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:

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmathullahi wa Barakathuh,

I have doubts in performing ablution. Is it required for ladies to cover their head while performig ablution ? How can ladies do ablution in public places ? Can we dry off the water with towel after ablution ?

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Answer:

Ablution of women

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.

Your Question: Is it required for ladies to cover their head while performig ablution ?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

O you who have believed! When you rise to offer the Salat, you must wash your faces and hands and your arms up to the elbows, and wipe your head with wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you become unclean, cleanse yourself with a full bath. If, however, you have ‘touched’ women and you can find no water, then cleanse yourselves with pure dust. Strike your palms on it and wipe your hands and faces with it. Allah does not will to make life hard for you, but He wills to purify you, and complete His blessings upon you so that you may show gratitude.

Except when the believing woman is in the presence of non-mehram men, or when she is offering her salaah, the believing woman is not obliged to cover her head, if she chooses not to do so.

There is absolutely no evidence in Shariah that a woman is required or obliged to cover her head when she is performing her ablution or ‘wudu’.

Your Question: How can ladies do ablution in public places ?

Alhamdolillah, even in this age of so called ‘freedom’, almost all the societies one finds oneself in, has separate wash-room facilities for men and women. Thus the believing woman would perform her ablution in a public ladies privy just as she would perform it in the privy of her house.

Your Question: Can we dry off the water with towel after ablution ?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.266 Narrated by Maimuna bint Al Harith

I placed water for the bath (ghusl) of Allah's Messenger (saws) and put a screen. He poured water over his hands, and washed them once or twice. Then he (saws) poured water with his right hand over his left one and washed his private parts. He (saws) rubbed his hand over the earth or the wall and washed it. He (saws) rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and blowing it out. He (saws) washed his face, forearms and head. He (saws) then poured water over his body and then withdrew from that place and washed his feet. I presented him a piece of cloth (towel) and he (saws) pointed with his hand (that he does not want it), and did not take it.

Although it is preferred to and a Sunnah to let the water dry itself through evaporation after ablution, the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not prohibit the believers from wiping themselves dry with a towel or sheet after ablution. Thus one may let the water after ablution dry through evaporation if one wishes, or one may wipe themselves dry with a towel or sheet, if one wishes….both ways are acceptable in Shariah.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan