Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Before sleeping, it is sunnah to perform ablution. If our ablution is invalidated when we are laying on our bed, is it necessary for us to get back up and perform our ablution again? And what are the benefits of ablution before sleeping?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
From al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib R.Anhuma, he said: The Prophet PBUH said to me:
إِذَا أَتَيتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوضَّأْ وضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلى شِقِّكَ الأَيمَنِ، وقلْ
When you go to your bed, perform ablution like the ablution for prayer, and then lie on your right side and say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نفِسي إِلَيكَ، وَفَوَّضتُ أَمري إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلَجَأْتُ ظَهرِي إِلَيْكَ، رغبةً ورهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لامَلجأَ ولا مَنجي مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِليكَ، آمنتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الذِي أَنزَلْت، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الذِي أَرسَلتَ
“O Allah I have handed over my face to thee, entrusted my affairs to thee, and committed my back to thee out of desire for and fear to thee. There is no refuge and no place of safety from thee except by having recource to thee. I believe in Thy Book which Thou hast sent down and in Thy prophet whom thou hast sent down.
If you die (that night), you would die in the true religion, and utter these words in the last of that you utter (other prayers).”
Sahih al-Bukhari (6311)
In another hadith also narrated by al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ، فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ
“Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer, lie or your right side,”
Sahih al-Bukhari (247) and Sahih Muslim (2710)
Al-Qadhi ‘Iyadh said: There are three wisdoms that can be taken from the above hadith, one of it is ablution before sleeping, ensuring that we are in a pure state in case we died in our sleep. Next, ablution will prevent us from having nightmares or disturbed by the shaytan and to only have good or true dreams. And lastly, if one dies in his sleep, the last action he would have done is purifying himself and remembering Allah by supplicating to Him. (See: Ikmal al-Mu'lim, 8/207)
Answering the above question, when a Muslim takes his ablution before sleeping and afterwards his ablution is invalidated, then it is sunnah for him to repeat his ablution. The reason is, the purpose of ablution is to ensure that a person is in a pure state when he fall asleep. This is in accordance with a hadith from Muaz bin Jabal RA, from the Prophet PBUH:
مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَبِيتُ عَلَى ذِكْرٍ طَاهِرًا، فَيَتَعَارُّ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ
“If a Muslim sleep while remembering Allah, in the state of purification, is alarmed while asleep at night, and asks Allah for good in this world and in the Hereafter. He surely gives it to him.”
Sunan Abu Daud (5042) and Sunan Ibn Majah (3881)
Muhammad Kamil Abd al-Somad in his book al-I’jaz al-Ilmi fi al-Islam wa al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyah, explains the great health and hygiene benefits of ablution. Starting from washing the hands, nasal rinsing, washing one’s arms reaching the elbows, part of one’s head, the ears and finally washing one’s feet reaching the ankles. Then, what about ablution before sleeping? Numerous health experts encourage us to clean our feet, mouth and face before sleeping. There are even beauty products and night routines especially formulated for skin care. Furthermore, ablution is encouraged for it is a great worship. If someone is in a pure state, then he is close with Allah, for Allah SWT love those who are pure.
Truthfully, there are boundless benefits and wisdoms of ablution, for we are certain that every commandment from Allah SWT are good and protect us from harm.
May Allah SWT make us from among those who love and practise ablution in our daily lives the same as what the salafus soleh has practised in their lives following the advice of the Prophet PBUH. Amin.