Do You Need to Say Bismillah Before Wudu? A Complete Guide

Hi again! Bismillah is a phrase that is very synonymous with Islam. It is written as بِسْمِ اللهِ and means "in the name of Allah." Generally, Muslims say this phrase before reading the Quran, eating, drinking, and more. But do you need to say Bismillah before wudu?

Whatever your reason for reading this article, I am confident you are seeking an answer to the question: Do you need to say Bismillah before wudu? Trust me! I won’t let you down today. That's exactly what I will explain now. Just read this article to the end!

The Virtues of Saying Bismillah Before Doing Something in Islam

First of all, I will explain the virtues of saying Bismillah before undertaking any task in Islam. I want you to grasp this point first because it is a basic aspect of this discussion that some Muslims do not fully understand. And I don't think you want to be like them, do you?

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

Before I delve into the virtues of saying Bismillah before any activity in Islam, let me share a hadith that serves as the foundation for all discussions on this topic. Pay attention to the hadith below:

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كُلُّ أَمْرٍ ذِي بَالٍ لَا يُبْدَأُ بِاسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ فَهُوَ أَبْتَرُ

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "All good activities that do not start with Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ) will be cut off from blessings."

In the hadith above, the Prophet Muhammad explains one of the virtues of saying Bismillah before doing something. According to him, if someone performs an action without saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim beforehand, that action will lack blessings. Do you know why?

Saying Bismillah before any action carries several meanings:

• You acknowledge that you cannot accomplish anything without Allah's help.
• You engage in dhikr before undertaking the task.
• You pray to Allah for your actions to be blessed, among other reasons.

These are common reasons why Muslims are strongly encouraged to say Bismillah before doing anything, provided it is a good action, not a bad one.

For instance, Muslims are advised to say Bismillahirrahmanirrahim before reading the Quran, whether during prayer or at other times. You can find this explained in the two hadiths below:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِذَا قَرَأْتُمْ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ, فَاقْرَؤُوا بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ, إِنَّهَا أُمُّ الْقُرْآنِ, وَأُمُّ الْكِتَابِ, وَالسَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِيُّ, وَبِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ أَحَدُ آيَاتِهَا

From Abu Hurairah (radliyallahu anhu), the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "If you read الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (Surah Al-Fatihah), then say Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ). Indeed, it (Surah Al-Fatihah) is the Ummul Quran, the Ummul Kitab, and as-Sab'u al-Matsani. And بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ is one of its verses."

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْتَتِحُ الصَّلَاةَ بِبِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ

From Ibn Abbas (radliyallahu anhuma), the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would begin prayer by reciting Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ).

Do You Need to Say Bismillah Before Wudu?

Now, I will explain the main topic of this discussion: Do you need to say Bismillah before wudu? I want you to understand the explanation below clearly, so you will have no further questions about it after reading this article. And of course, don’t forget! If you still have questions, please write them in the comments section! I would be very happy to engage in dialogue with you.

If you read some literature on Islamic law regarding wudu, you will not find an explicit requirement for Muslims to say Bismillah before performing it. The obligations during wudu include washing the face, saying the intention (Niyyah) while washing the face, washing the hands, wiping part of the head, wiping the ears, and washing the feet.

So, do you need to say Bismillah before wudu?

The answer is, "Yes, you should say Bismillah before wudu." The reason is that it adds to the blessings of wudu. Wudu has many benefits for Muslims, and these blessings will increase if you say Bismillah beforehand.

The Virtues of Saying Bismillah Before Wudu

Hi! Are you still with me? At the end of this discussion, I will explain the virtues of saying Bismillah before wudu. It's important for you to understand this so that you can gain a deeper insight into the main topic of this article.

• Saying Bismillah before wudu signifies that you acknowledge you cannot perform wudu without Allah's help.
• Additionally, saying Bismillah before wudu serves as a form of dhikr (remembrance) before undertaking an important action, which brings you additional rewards.
• Moreover, saying Bismillah before wudu is a way of praying to Allah that the wudu you are performing will be a blessing for you.

These are the three key virtues of saying Bismillah before wudu, which I believe are the most important. Of course, there are many other virtues beyond these three.

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