Is It OK to Dry Yourself After Wudu? The Explanation You're Looking For

Is It OK to Dry Yourself After Wudu?

Hi again! There are many interesting discussions about wudu. That's because it is one of the important worships in Islam. It also plays a central role in some of the obligatory prayers for Muslims. In several Islamic legal literatures, you can find lots of discussions about it, both what to do before doing it, while doing it, and after doing it. Now, one important question that I will explain in this article is: is it ok to dry yourself after wudu?

Whatever your reason for opening this article, I'm pretty sure you're looking for an explanation about the legality of drying your body after wudu: is it permissible for you to do that or not? Trust me! I will not let you down today. That's what I will explain now. You just need to read this article to the end!

What Can't You Do After Wudu?

Hi! First of all, I will provide an answer to one question related to the main topic in this discussion: what should you not do after wudu? I say that is related to the main topic because drying the body is something that is done after wudu. That's why you have to understand what can't be done and what should be done after wudu.

In short, if you read some literature on Islamic law, you won't find an explanation of the things you can't do after wudu. The most important reason is because there is no explanation about it all in the Quran and hadith. All explanations about wudu in several Islamic literacies, as I understand it, are explanations about the procedures for wudu, Niyyah for wudu, the virtues of wudu, things that are recommended after wudu, things that require Muslims to do wudu, and so on. etc.

Now, if there is no explanation about things that cannot be done after wudu, does that mean that you can do everything that is not against Islamic law after wudu?

Of course, the answer to that question is “Yes. You may do anything that is not against Islamic law after wudu.”

What Should You Do After Wudu?

I will now explain the answers to questions related to the main topic in this discussion: what should you do after wudu? You have to understand that now so you can perfectly understand the answers to the main questions in this discussion. In addition, there are some Muslims who do not understand it well. I think you don't want to be like them, do you?

In general, if you read some literature on Islamic law, especially the hadiths, you will find four things you should do after wudu:

Saying dua after wudu

The first thing you should do after wudu is saying dua after wudu. It has many benefits. In some previous articles, I have explained many things about it. I highly recommend you read them. I don't want to explain much about that anymore in this article.

You can find suggestions for saying dua after wudu in the hadith below:

عَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ :مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ  يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوْءَ ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُ : أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ . أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَزَادَ : اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

From Umar radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah alaihi wa sallam said, "It is not one of you who performs wudu then perfects it, then says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, "except the eight doors of Heaven have been opened for him. He can enter any door he wants." The hadith is narrated by Muslim and at-Tirmidhi. He (at-Tirmidhi) added another editor, "O Allah, make me among those who repent and make me including those who are cleansed."

Keeping the parts of your body that you have washed and rubbed in wudu wet

The second thing you should do after wudu is to keep the parts of your body that you washed and rubbed in wudu wet? The reason is because it is these body parts that will emit light on the Day of Judgment as a sign that you are the people of Prophet Muhammad. Pay attention to 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 wudu marks. Whoever of you is able to extend his white light, then let him do that.” The hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Using Miswak

Using Miswak is the third thing you should do after wudu. You can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِيْ لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ وُضُوْءِ . أَخْرَجَهُ مَالِكٌ وَأَحْمَدُ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ 

From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. He said, "If I had not burdened my people, I would have ordered them to use Miswak after every Wudu." The hadith was narrated by Malik, Ahmad, and an-Nasa'i.

Performing Sunnah prayers after wudu

The fourth thing you should do after wudu is the Sunnah prayer of two rakats. You can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوْءَ ، وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ، يَقْبَلُ بِقَلْبِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ عَلَيْهِمَا ، إِلَّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ

From Uqbah bin Amir radliyallahu anhu, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "No one does wudu and then does it perfectly, and prays two rakats with all his body and soul, except for sure he will go to heaven."

Is It OK to Dry Yourself After Wudu?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now I will explain the main topic in this article: is it ok to dry yourself after wudu? You must read the explanation below carefully so that there are no more questions about it in your mind. Of course, if you still have other questions about it, don't hesitate to write them down in the comment column. I will be very happy to enter into dialogue with you.

Before I explain the answer to the question, I will give you a classification of some of the things that I have explained in the previous few paragraphs:

1. There is no explanation in some Islamic legal literature about things that cannot be done after wudu. What this means is that you are allowed to do anything that is not against Islamic law after wudu.
2. One of the things you should do after wudu is to leave all the body parts that you have washed and rubbed in wudu to remain wet. 

Now, considering the two points above, the answer to that question is, “Sure. Drying yourself after wudu is ok.”

You have a question? Please write in the comment column!