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Fatwa CenterWasteful use of water in ablution is disliked
Question
As-salaamu 3laikum, The taps which we have in our house have to be turned on and off manually. When wiping the head and ears in ablution, can you wet your hand, turn the tap off and then wipe, or should you leave the tap running? And when you are washing the other parts in wudu, should you leave the tap running or not? As it is difficult to turn the tap off and rub your limbs as well. Jazaakum Allahu khairan.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is not obligatory for you to leave the tap open when wiping over your head and ears, and it is not obligatory for you to close it when rubbing water over your body parts. What is important is that you are not wasteful in using water because wastefulness is disliked.
The Fiqh Encyclopedia says about the use of water in ablution: "They (The scholars) also agreed that wasting in using water is disliked." [End of quote]
The Fiqh Encyclopedia also reads: “It is disliked to waste water when performing ablution, such as by using water in excess of the legitimate need.” [End of quote]
No doubt, it is better to close the faucet when rubbing water onto the body parts due to it reducing the water used. However, whether the faucet is closed or left open is not the only thing to consider. Opening the faucet could involve wastefulness if water gushes out with force during the ablution even if one closes it when rubbing water onto the body; and it is possible for it not to be considered wastefulness if the amount of water that comes out of the faucet is minimized even if one does not close it when rubbing water onto the body.
For more benefit on the importance of moderation with water and not being wasteful as much as possible, please refer to Fatwa 106655.
Allaah Knows best.
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