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:

I know wazu is obligatory before every prayer, but if one has taken a bath directly before praying, is it acceptable to pray without doing wazu?

Thank you

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Answer:

Can one pray after Gusl?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: I know wazu is obligatory before every prayer.

Purity (tahara) and wudu (ablution) is a pre-condition and obligatory before one can offer his prayers. But if one has done his wudu for zohr prayers, and does not break his wudu until asr, magrib, etc., there is no harm if he prays all the prayers with the same wudu. But if the person breaks the wudu, then he must do a fresh wudu for each prayer.

Your comment: but if one has taken a bath directly before praying, is it acceptable to pray without doing wazu?

The full bath / shower (ghusl) is a bigger form of purification than the wudu. Thus if one takes a full bath / shower and his intention is to purify himself for prayers, then there is absolutely no need to do his wudu again for prayer. He can pray his prayers directly after the full bath or shower, provided his intention (in his heart) was to purify himself 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.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan