Comparative study of minor ablution

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Abstract

Concerning Wudu (minor ablution), there are different views among the schools of Islamic jurisprudence. It is to be confessed that the Holy Qur’an has explicitly talked about minor ablution. The disagreement, however, of the Qaris (those who recite the Qur’an) on how to recite the related verses, gave rise to different understandings and diverse legal fatwas on the issue. The verses of minor ablution, according to a great number of Sunni jurists, signify one single meaning, whatever form they may be recited. Some traditions, nonetheless, are referred to as the source of some justifications brought about a considerable gap among Muslim jurists. This article attempts to re-analyze the two understandings of the law of minor ablution and to examine the way the difference had come in order to pave the way for some common point between the two schools. The author argues that even the Sunni jurists have not shown some reliable documents or clear-cut text of traditions from the holy Prophet (PBUH) to prove washing of the feet and the converse washing of the hands. The article then concludes that if the Sunni jurists were bound by their celebrated collections of hadith and paid

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