Uncategories Is it mustahabb to wipe the neck during wudoo

Is it mustahabb to wipe the neck during wudoo

Published on August 25, 2010 By
Assalam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

Dear Members

Q. Is it mustahabb to wipe the neck during wudoo’?.

Answer.
Alhamdulillah

It is not mustahabb to wipe the neck during wudoo’, because there is no proof of that from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: 
There is no saheeh report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which says that he wiped his neck during wudoo’, rather no such thing has been narrated from him in any saheeh hadeeth. Rather the saheeh ahaadeeth which describe the wudoo’ of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) do not mention that he wiped his neck. Hence the majority of scholars, such as Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmed did not regard that as mustahabb. Those who say that it is mustahabb rely on a report narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) or a da’eef (weak) hadeeth which says that he wiped his head until he reached the back of his head. Such reports cannot be relied on, and it does not contradict what is indicated by the sound ahaadeeth. Whoever does not wipe his neck, his wudoo’ is valid according to scholarly consensus. End quote. 
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 21/127. 

This hadeeth, “He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wiped his head until he reached the back of his head (which is the beginning of the back of the head),” was narrated by Abu Dawood (132) and was classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Da’eef Abi Dawood. 

In al-Majmoo’ (1/489) al-Nawawi mentioned a difference of opinion among the companions of al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) concerning wiping the neck in wudoo’. Then he said: This is a summary of what they said, and they had four views on this matter, one of which is that it is Sunnah to wipe it with new water. The second is that it is mustahabb and cannot be said to be Sunnah. The third is that it is mustahabb to use the water left from wiping the head and ears. The fourth is that it is neither Sunnah nor mustahabb. The fourth view is the one that is correct. Hence al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) did not mention it, and neither did our earlier companions. It was not mentioned by most of the scholars. There is no proof of that from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

It is proven in Saheeh Muslim and elsewhere that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray.” 
In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into our religion that is not part of it, will have it rejected.:”According to a version narrated by Muslim: “Whoever does any action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it rejected,: 
With regard to the hadeeth that is narrated from Talhah ibn Musarraf, from his father, from his grandfather, which says that he saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wiping his head until he reached the back of his head and the first part of the neck, it is a hadeeth which is da’eef (weak) according to scholarly consensus. 

With regard to the words of al-Ghazaali: Wiping the neck is Sunnah because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Wiping the neck is a protection from the yoke (or chains – al-ghull)”, this is a mistake, because these are not the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). End quote. 

Al-ghull (pl. al-aghlaal) refers to chains that are placed on the neck. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 
“They are those who disbelieved in their Lord! They are those who will have iron chains (al-aghlaal) tying their hands to their necks”
[al-Ra’d 13:5] 

“And We shall put iron collars (al-aghlaal) round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?”
[Saba’ 34:33] 

Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (1/195): 
There is no saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about wiping the neck at all. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz said: 
It is not mustahabb or prescribed in sharee’ah to wipe the neck, rather the head and the ears only are to be wiped, as is indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah. End quote.
Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 10/103.


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