Fatwa #4677623 December 2020Canada
Washing the face in wudhu and scarf with symbols
Question
My question relates to washing the boundaries of the face in wudu: I only recently (maybe a month or so ago) found out that it was specifically required to wash from the earlobes to the earlobes, since most sites that explain how to do wudu simply say "wash the face", without stipulating the exact boundaries. As such, I have not been paying attention to whether or not I washed that area since I converted 8 years ago.
For some reason, I can no longer remember how exactly I had been washing my face for the past 8 years before finding out about the boundaries that should be respected when washing (I try to re-create it, but I really can’t remember what I did to wash my face prior to learning this information). I have, however, been very thorough in my wudu (it takes me a good 5 minutes to perform), so I definitely wasn't simply splashing some water on my face and considering that enough.
Should I make-up the entire 8 years worth of prayers where I’m unsure of if I washed my entire face, to be cautious? Or can I assume that, even if I possibly wasn’t specifically intending to wash all the way from earlobe to earlobe, the water very likely still reached those areas?
Also, I recently noticed that a scarf I prayed regularly in had an image of a synagogue on it (including Stars of David). Should I try to estimate and repeat the prayers in did while wearing that?
This is causing me a lot of distress. Thank you very much for any guidance you can give me.
Answer
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
Sister in Islam,
It gives us pleasure to receive your question and to learn that you have being guided to the pure religion of Islam. May Allah Ta’ala increase your faith and knowledge with regards to matters pertaining to Islam. Ameen.
Your understanding is correct. The face must be washed from the hair line to below the chin and from one ear-lobe to the other. You further state that you wash thoroughly, your wudhu generally takes 5 minutes and you weren’t simply splashing water. However, you cannot recall whether you were specifically washing up to the earlobe. [i]
In light of the above, it is safe to say that when one washes the face thoroughly, the face will be washed till the earlobes.
Therefore, you do not need to repeat 8 years of Salaah.
The Salaah that was unknowingly read with a scarf with an image of the stars of David and a synagogue will be valid and should not be repeated.
In the future, exercise precaution in ensuring that you do not perform Salah with clothing or scarf having an image of animate objects or salient features of other religions.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
M. Akhtar
Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[i] (Nurul-Idah, p 30, 32-33, Misbah Publishers)
اركان الوضوء اربعة وهي فرائضه. الاول: غسل الوجه و حده طولا من مبدا سطح الجبهة الى اسفل الذقن وحده عرضا ما بين شحمتي الاذنينيسن في الوضوء ثمانية عشر شيئا......و مسح الاذنين ولو بماء الراس
تحفة الفقهاء (1/ 8)
أما الْأَركان فَأَرْبَعَة أَحدهَا غسل الْوَجْه مرّة وَاحِدَة قَوْله تَعَالَى {قرن مكناهم}
وحد الْوَجْه قصاص الشّعْر إِلَى حِدة الذقن وَإِلَى شحمتي الْأذن وَهُوَ حد صَحِيح
النتف في الفتاوى للسغدي (1/ 16)
واغتسال فَفرض الْوضُوء أَرْبَعَة اشياء عِنْد الْفُقَهَاء وَعند ابي عبد الله
1 - غسل الْوَجْه 2 وَالْيَدَيْنِ 3 وَالرّجلَيْنِ 4 وَمسح ربع الرَّأْس
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (1/ 3)
مطلب غسل الوجه (وأما) أركان الوضوء فأربعة: (أحدها) : غسل الوجه مرة واحدة، لقوله تعالى {فاغسلوا وجوهكم} [المائدة: 6] ، والأمر المطلق لا يقتضي التكرار، ولم يذكر في ظاهر الرواية حد الوجه، وذكر في غير رواية الأصول أنه من قصاص الشعر إلى أسفل الذقن، وإلى شحمتي الأذنين، وهذا تحديد صحيح
(Bahisti Zewar Pg.54 – Zam Zam Publishers – 2005)