1/22. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 42 — Wudu Is Not Required After Every Urination
Al-Istibra'
Hadith About Wudu After Urination
Sunan Abi Dawud : 42
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 42
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَخَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ الْمُقْرِئُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّوْأَمُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو يَعْقُوبَ التَّوْأَمُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ بَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ عُمَرُ خَلْفَهُ بِكُوزٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا يَا عُمَرُ " . فَقَالَ هَذَا مَاءٌ تَتَوَضَّأُ بِهِ . قَالَ " مَا أُمِرْتُ كُلَّمَا بُلْتُ أَنْ أَتَوَضَّأَ وَلَوْ فَعَلْتُ لَكَانَتْ سُنَّةً " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) urinated and Umar was standing behind him with a jug of water. He said: What is this, Umar? He replied: Water for you to perform ablution with. He said: I have not been commanded to perform ablution every time I urinate. If I were to do so, it would become a sunnah.
[1] Meaning, to seek to attain innocence, or to be absolved of guilt, by Istinjā' or cleansing oneself after urinating. And the context here is related to the removal of urine, so as not to fall into the description of the one punished in the grave in Hadith number 20.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 42In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 42English translation : Book 1, Hadith 42
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 42
This hadith about wudu after urination teaches balance and care in religious practice. Umar stood behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with a jug of water, thinking it was for ablution. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked what it was, and Umar said it was water for him to perform wudu. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then explained that he had not been commanded to perform ablution every time he urinated. He also said that if he did so, it would become a sunnah. The main lesson is not to turn an action into a regular religious practice unless there is clear guidance for it. The hadith speaks specifically about wudu after urination, not about ignoring cleanliness.
What we learn from this hadith
- Religious practice should be based on clear guidance, not personal assumption.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not make wudu after every urination a regular sunnah.
- Good intentions should still follow the limits taught by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The hadith shows ease and balance in purification.
