Question:
A man’s wuḍū’ becomes invalid while the khuṭbah is ongoing. Should he leave to renew his wuḍū’, or should he stay and listen to the khuṭbah, then go to renew his wuḍū’ at the time of the iqāmah?
Answer:
He should go out and make wuḍū’ because he may forget and end up praying without ṭahārah, and this can happen. Or he may miss a rak‘ah, especially given the negligence of many imāms in shortening the prayer, or he may even miss the prayer altogether, for example, if no water is available because it has run out, or similar situations. So, let him go out and make wuḍū’, then return and listen attentively to the rest of the khuṭbah.
Know that witnessing the khuṭbah is not a condition for wuḍū’, but it is recommended due to the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
«مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَأَنْصَتَ، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ، وَزِيَادَة ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ، وَمَنْ مَسَّ الْحَصَى فَقَدْ لَغَا»
“Whoever performs wuḍū’ and perfects the wuḍū’, then comes to Jumu‘ah and listens and remains silent, will have his sins forgiven between that Jumu‘ah and the next, along with three additional days. But whoever touches the pebbles has engaged in idle talk.”
Reported by Muslim from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه).
The Prophet ﷺ also performed purification for Ṭawāf and for standing at ‘Arafah, and he ﷺ said:
«إني كَرِهتُ أنْ أذكرَ الله إلَّا على طهارة»
“Indeed, I disliked mentioning Allah except in a state of purity.”
Reported by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and others from al-Muhājir (رضي الله عنه).
Translated by:
Abū Ya‘qūb ‘Abdullāh az-Zayla‘ī