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:

Assalam O Alaikum

A few days ago, some one told me about a 2 rakat nahif called thaiyatul wudu. It is said that this nafil prayer is prayed before every prayer and after performing wudu. It is also said that when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent to the paradise, he saw Bilal radiallah before him, and asked Bilal, how come Bilal is before Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), and bilal replied that he used to pray this thaiyatul wudu prayer before every prayer, and after performing wudu. I do not know whether this is right or not, please provide me the answer with hadith and quran.

Jazakallah

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Answer:

Tahiyatul wudu prayer

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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.250 Narrated by Abu Huraira

At the time of the Fajr prayer the Prophet (saws) once asked Hadrat Bilal (r.a.): "Tell me of the best deed you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise." Bilal (r.a.) replied, "I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I pray after that ablution, as much as Allah has written for me."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.34a

Topic: Praying two rak'ah after ablution

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said to Hadrat Bilal (r.a.), "O Bilal, tell me what good deed you have done in Islam that I hear the sound of your footsteps in Paradise?" Bilal said, "That (everytime) after I purify myself (by wudu) during the day or night, I pray with that purification as much as Allah has destined for me."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Uqbah ibn 'Aamr narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "If one performs and perfects his ablution and prays two rak'ah with his heart and face (completely on his prayer), Paradise becomes his."

Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Ibn Khuzaimah.

Khumran, the client of Hadrat Uthman ibn Affan (r.a.) said: "I saw Uthman call for water for ablution, pour it from the pot onto his right hand and wash it three times. He then put his right hand into the container, rinsed his mouth and nose and blew the water out. Then he washed his face three times, followed by his arms up to the elbows. Then he washed his feet three times and said 'I saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) make ablution like this.' And then he (r.a.) would say, 'Whoever makes ablution like this and then prays two rak'ah without having any other concern on his mind, all his past sins will be forgiven."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, it is indeed highly recommended, encouraged and meritorious that one pray a two-rakah nafl prayer (or more if one wishes) immediately after one has done their ‘wudu’ or ablution.

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