Stairs to Bliss - by Imam Shurunbulali (rahmatullahi alaihi)
The Book of Taharah - Categories of Wudu: When Praiseworthy

Explication by Shaykh Husain: Real Audio: Listen Online | Download

Translation
Wudu is praiseworthy:
1) before touching books of knowledge
2) when renewed for prayer (even though a state of wudu already exists)
3) when done to exit disagreement between the scholars, for example after touching a woman
4) before sleep
5) after waking up
6) after every sin
7) after boisterous laughing outside of prayer

Commentary
For these acts, a state of wudu is praiseworthy. The recommendation for making wudu before touching books of knowledge is particular to books of religious knowledge. Such books are essentially explications of the Quran and the sunnah. Thus, handling them with respect and in a state of purity is recommended.

According to the author, making wudu to exit from the disagreement scholars is praiseworthy. This requires an extensive knowledge of legal rulings and is addressed, in particular, to scholars of law. The example provided is that of touching a woman. According to the Shaf'i school, touching a woman nullifies the wudu; whereas the Hanafis have ruled that such an act does not break the wudu.

It was a sunnah of the Prophet (salla Allah 'alayhi wa sallam) to make wudu for each prayer, before sleep, and after waking up. He (salla Allah 'alayhi wa sallam) also encouraged his companions to make wudu after certain errors, for example, anger.

Hypothetical Case: If an individual makes wudu for a particular prayer and this wudu is not nullified by the time of the next prayer, he may use this same wudu for the new prayer. However, should he decide to renew the wudu, he will be rewarded.

Hypothetical Case: If someone has made wudu, for example in the shower after waking up, and has not yet performed an act of worship with this wudu, it is makruh (disliked) to make a new wudu.

For the case of boisterous laughing, the author places the condition of "outside of prayer." It is recommended to renew wudu after such laughter because of the heedlessness associated with such an act. Of note is that laughing out-loud during prayer, as opposed to outside of prayer, invalidates the wudu.

Explication by Shaykh Husain: Real Audio: Listen Online | Download

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