1/41. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 399 — Wudu and Allah's Name
Concerning saying "Bismilllah" when performing ablution
Hadith on Wudu and Mentioning Allah's Name
Sunan Ibn Majah : 399
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 399
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لاَ وُضُوءَ لَهُ وَلاَ وُضُوءَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no prayer for one who does not have ablution, and there is no ablution for one who does not mention the Name of Allah (before it).'
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 399In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 133English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 399
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 399
This hadith on wudu and mentioning Allah’s Name carries the same wording through Abu Hurairah. The Messenger of Allah said there is no prayer for one who does not have ablution, and there is no ablution for one who does not mention the Name of Allah before it. The hadith places spiritual awareness at the start of purification. It also reminds the reader that prayer is not approached casually; it is preceded by wudu. Since the text is concise, we should not add extra events or background. The core teaching is enough: prepare for prayer with ablution, and begin that ablution by remembering Allah. This is why searches like Bismillah before wudu hadith often lead to this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ablution is mentioned as a condition before prayer in the narration.
- Mentioning Allah’s Name is connected to the validity or completeness of wudu in the wording.
- The report encourages awareness of Allah before beginning purification.
