FatwaFederal TerritoriesPurification (Taharah)
AL-KAFI #1938: PERBEZAAN ANTARA AL-GHASL (BASUHAN) DAN AL-MASHU (SAPUAN)
What is the difference between washing (al-ghasl) and wiping (al-mash) in wudu according to Surah al-Maidah verse 6?
Short answer
Washing requires water to flow over the limb of wudu, while wiping does not require flowing water and is satisfied by wiping alone.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Purification (Taharah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Washing requires water to flow over the limb of wudu, while wiping does not require flowing water and is satisfied by wiping alone. According to the Shafii jurists, merely spreading water without letting it flow is not counted as washing and does not make the wudu valid. The absence of a flowing requirement also applies to wiping in other cases, such as over a bandage and leather socks. For wiping the head, it suffices for water or moisture to reach the head even without wiping it by hand, for example by dripping water, placing a moist hand or standing in the rain with the intention, and the wudu remains valid.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Perbezaan yang ketara antara basuhan dan sapuan ialah hukum basuhan perlu mengalirkan air pada anggota wuduk. Manakala hukum sapuan tidak mensyaratkan pengaliran air pada badan dan memadai hanya menyapunya sahaja.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1938: PERBEZAAN ANTARA AL-GHASL (BASUHAN) DAN AL-MASHU (SAPUAN)”, 19 May 2023. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/5649-al-kafi-1938-perbezaan-antara-al-ghasl-basuhan-dan-al-mashu-sapuan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/difference-between-washing-and-wiping-in-wudu/