O you who believe, when you rise for Salāh, (prayer) wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and make Masah (wiping by hands) of your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. (5:6)
Importance of Wudhu
The very fact that no prayer is valid without wudhu is enough evidence to indicate the significance of Wudhu. It is not just a ritual of cleaning but a connection to faith that leads to spiritual cleaning as well through expiation of sins. It is narrated in a hadith that:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When a person performs ablution and washes his hands, his sins exit through his hands. When he washes his face, his sins exit through his face. When he washes his forearms and wipes his head, his sins exit though his forearms and head. When he washes his feet, his sins exit through his feet.'" Sunan Ibn Majah 283
Additionally, since water is the purifying agent in ablution, it is also referred to in multiple Ahadith, and emphasis has been laid on avoiding wastage of water. Environmental Sustainability is another subject that Islam promotes, and the utilization of water resources is given paramount importance.
How to Maintain Wudhu While travelling
Not many people are comfortable with the idea of pausing their travels to use public restrooms, but needs are a must as they say, and the time for prayer also calls for wudu. The ABDEEZ portable Bidet is a highly convenient device to carry and a true friend to your hygiene needs, if you require the toilet before doing Wudhu. Additionally, rather than relying on paper towels, the ABDEEZ Portable Towels are quite handy for quick drying, not to mention environmentally sustainable.
To completely avoid using public bathrooms for wudhu, the easiest strategy is to perform your ablution before leaving and endeavor to maintain it for any prayers that might have to be said during the travels. Certain actions nullify wudhu and they include using the toilet and passing of gas. In order to skip extraneous bathroom visits, maintaining wudhu is recommended. Many would say. easier said than done, and it is true indeed, for when one is at the verge of breaking his wudhu, there is hardly any stopping. However, some find it easily handled and a few practical tips have been highlighted that can assist in maintaining the state of Wudhu in travel.
- Avoiding Fluids before and During Travelling
To avoid unnecessary stopovers during travelling it is prudent to limit your fluid intake and only consume what is necessary. A full bladder can definitely be a menace, making stops necessary in travels, and any visit to the toilet will break the wudhu. So, while the temptation and craving might draw your attention towards sodas, juices or milkshakes, it might just be better to simply wait until you do not have any prayers to say while travelling or when you have reached your destination.
- Fiber Intake
Constipation and gas are two highly cumbersome issues which can cause wudhu problems at inconvenient times. Having fiber rich food, a day before travelling, like oats and fruits, and avoiding those which can potentially cause constipation, can go a long way in eliminating the risk of wudu nullification from gas.
- De-stress and Relax
Once you have done your wudhu and are all set to start your journey, relax and completely avoid giving any extra thought to your wudhu. Fluctuating between whether it is broken or not broken, will continuously keep you in a state of turmoil and might give cause to the actual breaking of the wudhu.
- Avoiding Food that cause Gas
Certain foods are more likely to cause gas than others and should be avoided when one is planning to travel. Beans and lentils fall into this category as well as some vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower.
- Use Bathroom Before travelling
The basic rule is that one should eliminate all possibilities of necessary actions that will lead to wudhu nullification. Using the toilet before travelling and performing ablution right before you leave is a smart move and if one takes care of the other possibilities as well, it is quite possible to maintain the state of wudhu throughout travel and easily pray when the time arrives.
Bibliography
Chapter: The Reward of Purification. Sunan ibn majah 283 - The book of purification and its Sunnah - كتاب الطهارة وسننها - sunnah.com - sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم). (n.d.). https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:283
Surah al-Ma’idah - 1-120. Quran.com. (n.d.). https://quran.com/5?startingVerse=6