Niyyah for Wudu for Muslim Women: Insights for Muslim Women

Wudu is an act of worship for all Muslims, both men and women. When performing wudu, it must be done correctly. Performing wudu perfectly means fulfilling all its obligations, one of which is saying the Niyyah (intention) for wudu. In this article, I will explain the Niyyah for wudu for Muslim women.

No matter your reason for reading this article, I am sure you are looking for an explanation about the Niyyah for wudu for Muslim women. Trust me! I will not let you down today. That is what I will explain now, so you just need to read this article until the end!

When Should Muslim Women Perform Wudu?

Hi! First of all, I will address an important basic question that some Muslim women may not fully understand (perhaps you are one of them): when should Muslim women perform wudu? The question seems very simple. But is it true that the answer is also very simple?!

In general, all Muslims, including Muslim women in this context, must perform wudu if they have small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and are going to engage in rituals that require them to be in a state of purity during their performance. This is indeed correct, but it is a general answer. Sometimes, a more detailed response is necessary to ensure that the person asking receives a complete answer.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

So, when should Muslim women perform wudu?

There are four conditions that require Muslim women to perform wudu:

1. If a Muslim woman has small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and is going to perform namaz (prayer). This is an obligation.
2. If a Muslim woman has small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and is going to perform Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba). This is also an obligation.
3. If a Muslim woman has small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and intends to hold the Quran. This is an obligation as well.
4. If a Muslim woman has small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and wishes to always maintain wudu, even if she will not perform acts of worship that require it. They may choose to do this because they want to receive the benefits of always being in a state of purity. Thus, this is a recommendation.

The Virtues of Wudu for Muslim Women

Hi! Are you still with me? Now I will explain the virtues of wudu for Muslim women. It's important to understand these concepts, as many Muslims are not very clear about them.

There are many virtues of wudu for Muslim women. Of course, I won't explain them all today; I will only describe three key virtues of wudu for them:

• Wudu will be one of the signs for Muslim women that they are part of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad on the Day of Judgment.

You can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ: إِنَّ أُمَّتِيْ يَأْتُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرَّا مُحَجَّلِيْنَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الْوُضُوْءِ، فَمَنْ اِسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيْلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah (radliyallahu anhu), he said, “I have heard the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say, ‘Indeed, my people on the Day of Judgment will come with white light from the marks of wudu. Whoever of you is able to extend his white light, then let him do that.’” This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

• Allah loves those who always purify themselves, which, in this context, refers to people who maintain wudu. In other words, if a Muslim woman does this, it is because Allah loves her.

You can find this explanation in the following verse of the Quran:

وَيَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيْضِ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ اَذًىۙ فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاۤءَ فِى الْمَحِيْضِۙ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوْهُنَّ حَتّٰى يَطْهُرْنَ ۚ فَاِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوْهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ اَمَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

And they ask you about menstruation. Say, “It is harmful, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” (Al-Baqarah: 222).

• Wudu can wash away small sins. In other words, all minor sins of Muslim women will be erased if they perform wudu.

You can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ، حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَظْفَارِهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

From Uthman bin Affan (radliyallahu anhu), he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Whoever performs wudu perfectly, his small sins will come out of his body, indeed they all come out from under his nails.’” This hadith was narrated by Muslim.

When Is Wudu Not Beneficial for Muslim Women?

If you think that wudu is always beneficial for Muslim women, then you are mistaken! Under certain conditions, wudu is not beneficial for them. So, when is wudu not beneficial for Muslim women?

Please note that the benefit of wudu I am referring to here is its function to remove small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ). This is not at all related to the benefits of wudu for Muslim women that I have explained in the previous paragraphs.

There are two conditions under which wudu will not be beneficial for Muslim women in removing small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ):

• When a Muslim woman is menstruating.
• When a Muslim woman is in the period of istihadlah (the period after giving birth until her blood ceases).

You may now be wondering why wudu is not beneficial for Muslim women who are menstruating or in the period of istihadlah. The answer is quite simple: in those two conditions, they experience a big hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَكْبَرُ). Therefore, wudu performed during big hadas cannot remove small hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ).

Niyyah for Wudu for Muslim Women

Now, I will explain the main topic of this discussion, so please read the explanation carefully.

In fact, there is no difference between the Niyyah for Wudu for Muslim women and that for Muslim men. When making the Niyyah for wudu, you must intend to remove small hadas as an act of worship and obligation to Allah. One example is as follows:

نَوَيْتُ الْوُضُوْءَ لِرَفْعِ الْحَدَثِ الْأَصْغَرِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform wudu to remove minor hadas, as an obligation, because of Allah Ta'ala.

Do you have any questions? Please feel free to write them in the comments section!