Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
Is leaving the water faucet running while performing wudu (ablution) considered wasteful, and what are the implications for the wudu itself?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.
Leaving the faucet open during wudu, within the customary practice, is generally permissible. However, the person performing wudu should be mindful to use water sparingly to avoid falling into wastefulness (israf). Wastefulness in wudu refers to using more water than is needed, which can be either sinful or strongly discouraged.
To clarify this matter, I will break down the rulings for you as follows:
Opening the Faucet within Customary Limits at Home
If you are at home and use more than three washes during wudu out of concern for thoroughness or for cooling purposes, this is permissible and not disliked. An example of customary usage is when someone opens the faucet for wudu in cold weather, waiting for the water to warm up slightly. The small amount of water used during this time does not count as wastefulness.
Opening the Faucet within Customary Limits at a Friend’s House
If you are permitted to perform wudu there and use more than three washes out of concern for thoroughness or for cooling purposes, this is also permissible and not disliked.
Opening the Faucet beyond Customary Limits
Repeating wudu in the same sitting or using excessive water can be considered mildly discouraged (makruh tanzihi), so it is better to avoid it.
Exceeding Three Washes in Wudu Believing It to Be Sunna
This is considered strongly discouraged (makruh tahrimi) because of the hadith where the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“A Bedouin came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and asked him about wudu. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) showed him how to perform wudu three times, then said, ‘This is wudu. Whoever does more than this has done wrong, transgressed, and acted unjustly.’” [Ibn Maja]
Using Excessive Water from a Dedicated Source, Such as Mosque Water or Water from a Charitable Institution
This is considered forbidden (haram). [See: Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
People often overlook the ruling in this area, so it is important to be aware of it.
You might wonder about the hadith concerning wastefulness with running water, where it is narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by Sa‘d while he was performing wudu and said: “What is this wastefulness?” Sa‘d asked, “Is there wastefulness in wudu?” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) replied,
“Yes, even if you are by a flowing river.” [Ibn Majah]
This hadith indicates that using more than the prescribed three washes is considered unnecessary and wasteful, which is why it is termed israf in this context, not because it is inherently prohibited.
Summary
Islamic teachings emphasize the value of water conservation, which is encouraged by the Sacred Law. Wastefulness is discouraged, as it is not approved in Islam. Allah (Most High) says:
“Do not waste. Surely He does not like the wasteful.” [Quran, 7:31]
This principle is also supported globally in our times as nations strive to preserve water resources. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to avoid wastefulness in wudu and other activities. I also recommend installing water-saving faucets, such as smart touch faucets, as this aligns with the Islamic legal principles of water conservation.
May Allah illuminate our understanding with the light of His knowledge.
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all.
Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.
From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.
His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.
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