Q: I would like to ask you about this Hadith; the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “No Wudu’ [ablution] (is valid) for the one who has not mentioned the Name of Allah at the beginning of it.” Is this Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish), and if so, does it mean that if someone forgets to mention Allah’s Name at the beginning of Wudu’ they have to repeat it again?

A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions. Firstly: The wording of the Hadith is as follows: “No Salah [Prayer] (is valid) for the one who does not have Wudu’; and no Wudu’ (is valid) for the one who has not mentioned the Name of Allah upon it.” (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim) In "Bulugh Al-Maram", Ibn Hajar quoted Imam Ahmad who said: “Nothing of this has been authenticated to be acted upon.” Al-Suyuty also mentioned this Hadith in "Al-Jami‘ Al-Saghir" and indicated it to be Sahih due to the multiple Sanads (chain of narrators) through which it was reported. Secondly: Assuming this Hadith to be Sahih, then, if anyone forgets to mention Allah’s Name when performing Wudu’ or does so through ignorance, the ruling on their Wudu’ is that it is valid. (Part No. 5; Page No. 205) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.