Starting Wudhu By Washing Feet?

[Don'tMakeAس]

(salam)

 

Since coming to Pakistan, I have noticed a very common practice among the Shia regarding Wudhu. Whenever given the chance to do Wudhu while sitting (ie: in a proper Wudhu area), people commence their Wudhu by washing their feet thoroughly up to their ankles. This is done before any other action (although it does not replace the wiping of the feet at the end). Just about everyone does it with persistent regularity. I have never seen this practice in all my time in Canada, nor have I seen this among the Sunnis anywhere. I also cannot find any evidence for it on the Internet (http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Ablution-%28Shia%29). Is this perhaps a mustahab act of some sort?

 

Coincidentally, I found a reference to this practice in a book describing Ibn Battuta's travels, where it is recounted that Ibn Battuta met some Shia (in I think Iraq) and got into an argument with them over where to start Wudhu from. The Shia supposedly claimed that the feet had to be begun from, as they are the support for the body.

 

Can someone please clear up some of this confusion?

 

 

(wasalam)

Edited April 30, 2015 by Patience101

[Khalilallah]

It is quite hot in Pakistan and the feet could get very smelly and hot so I think they wash their feet because of that and do Wudhu later after washing the foot.

 

I think that but I am ignorant of Islamic Laws, just in terms of practice and context I think this could be a reason.

[Don'tMakeAس]

It is quite hot in Pakistan and the feet could get very smelly and hot so I think they wash their feet because of that and do Wudhu later after washing the foot.

 

I think that but I am ignorant of Islamic Laws, just in terms of practice and context I think this could be a reason.

 

But something happening with such regularity that a person (like me) begins to think it is a part of Wudhu? Would this not then be classified as a bid'a?

[Khalilallah]

But something happening with such regularity that a person (like me) begins to think it is a part of Wudhu? Would this not then be classified as a bid'a?

I don't know, I have personally never seen such a thing as a person beginning Wudhu by washing their feet. 

 

I have seen people wash their feet and then do Wudhu separately. 

[Don'tMakeAس]

I don't know, I have personally never seen such a thing as a person beginning Wudhu by washing their feet. 

 

I have seen people wash their feet and then do Wudhu separately. 

 

It's hard to tell if they're starting their Wudhu or washing their feet separately when they do it every single time they can. Plus, as I mentioned in the OP, Sunnis don't do it at all. It seems to have been aggravated into some sort of false Shia-Sunni difference.

[alisayyed]

SA.

Most possibly, it is with the intention of making the feet paak.

Especially during the rains, when the chances of your feet being najis are high. 

 

The same is the case in India. Most people wash their feet here, too. Including me, if i am in doubt.

It has nothing to do with wudhu specifically, but with making yourself paak before namaz.

[Don'tMakeAس]

SA.

Most possibly, it is with the intention of making the feet paak.

Especially during the rains, when the chances of your feet being najis are high. 

 

The same is the case in India. Most people wash their feet here, too. Including me, if i am in doubt.

It has nothing to do with wudhu specifically, but with making yourself paak before namaz.

 

The problem is, it has become so regular that people treat it like an obligatory part of Wudhu. Moreover, these people seem to only be Shias. It seems that we have fallen added this practice into Wudhu without even realizing it, and this has been going on for like a thousand years (since Ibn Battuta at least).

Edited April 30, 2015 by Patience101

[ireallywannaknow]

If anyone does do that I would just say make sure your feet are dry before wiping at the end otherwise the validity of the wudhu becomes problematic. 

[alisayyed]

The problem is, it has become so regular that people treat it like an obligatory part of Wudhu. Moreover, these people seem to only be Shias. It seems that we have fallen added this practice into Wudhu without even realizing it, and this has been going on for like a thousand years (since Ibn Battuta at least).

It is possible that there may be some people who might consider a pre requisite for wudhu.

I remember hearing a maulana specifically stating that this is not obligatory and, if possible, should be avoided, to save water (because at that time, we were facing a drought like situation). (about 12 years ago).

 

As far as I am aware of, in my area, people are aware of the fact that it is not a part of wudhu.

 

Shias are known to take the concept of pakizgi to an extreme level.

At the same time, unfortunately, the knowledge about najasat and pakizgi are essentially absent from the general sunni population. I have to play hop-scotch, when trying to pray in a sunni masjid. There is no proper system to prevent najasat in any of the sunni masjids I visited. So, no feet washing.

 

If anyone does do that I would just say make sure your feet are dry before wiping at the end otherwise the validity of the wudhu becomes problematic. 

 

People do wipe their feet after washing them. It is a common practice. They are aware of the validity issue.

 

-

 

Also let me elaborate a little-

 

In the sub-continent, the population is high and it is concentrated in some pockets. This is because, due to corruption, infrastructure of relatively good quality is available in only these limited areas.

This leads to congested pockets of civilisation.

 

Again due to corruption and general lethargy, it is possible that many areas are not cleaned properly, the drainage system may be malfunctional and puddles might be created during the rains due to potholes on the poor-quality roads.

Due to high temperatures and also due to a cultural phenomenon, majority people here dont wear shoes, but wear sandals and chappals.

All this together increases the chances of their feet becoming najis. Hence, the need to wash the feet.

 

In areas, where the roads are nice and clean and where rainwater flows off into the sea, like my area, a higher percentage dont wash their feet.

In some cases, people wash their feet due to a force of habit.