3 Duas After Wudu That Are Often Forgotten

Wudu (ablution) is an act that serves to remove minor ritual impurity (hadats kecil) from a Muslim. There is no Muslim who is unfamiliar with the act of wudu, as a Muslim generally performs this act of worship before carrying out prayer (shalat), given that it is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer. Allah even explained the general procedure for wudu in the Qur'an. Furthermore, the Prophet himself conveyed many virtues of wudu. Scholars (ulama) have also discussed the procedure for wudu in detail so that Muslims are able to perform it according to the guidance and requirements of the Shari'a. Among what was taught by Rasulullah are the recitation or supplications (doa) after wudu. There are several post-wudu supplications that perhaps some of us still do not know or have not yet put into practice.

First:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is alone, He has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger." (HR. Muslim: 234 from ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir al-Juhani).

Rasulullah said regarding the virtue of this supplication:

مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُبْلِغُ – أَوْ فَيُسْبِغُ – الْوَضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَةُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ

"There is not one of you who performs wudu and perfects his wudu, then says: 'Asyhadu alla ilaaha illallah wahdahu laa syarikalah wa asyhadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rosuluhu,' except that the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him. He may enter (Paradise) through whichever of them he wishes." (HR. Muslim: 234 from ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir al-Juhani).

Second: Additional Phrase to the First Supplication

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

"O Allah, make me among those who repent, and make me among those who purify themselves." (HR. At-Tirmidhi: 55 from ‘Umar bin Al-Khaththab). [1]

Thus, the complete text is:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

The reward is also the same: the eight gates of Paradise will be opened, and one may enter Paradise through whichever door he wishes. (HR. At-Tirmidhi: 55 from ‘Umar bin Al-Khaththab). This additional supplication is a realization of Allah's word when commanding women to purify themselves after menstruation:

فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

"And when they have purified themselves, then approach them from where Allah has ordered you. Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves." (QS. Al-Baqarah: 222).

Third:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ

"Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship in truth except You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You." (HR. An-Nasā'ī in 'Amal Al-Yawm wa Al-Laylah: 83 from Abu Sa'īd Al-Khuḍrī).[2]

Rasulullah said regarding the virtue of this supplication:

مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ، كُتِبَ فِي رَقٍّ ثُمَّ طُبِعَ بِطَابَعٍ فَلَمْ يُكْسَرْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

"Whoever performs wudu, then says: 'Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika. Asyhadu allaa ilaaha illaa anta. Astaghfiruka wa atuubu ilayk,' it will be written on a scroll, then sealed, and it will not be broken until the Day of Resurrection." (HR. An-Nasā'ī in 'Amal Al-Yawm wa Al-Laylah: 83 from Abu Sa'īd Al-Khuḍrī).

In reality, this third supplication is the kaffāratul majlis (expiation for the sitting/assembly) supplication, but it is also recommended to be recited after completing wudu. Therefore, we should try our best not to neglect these three supplications every time we finish wudu, as a form of practicing the Sunnah of Rasulullah. Imam an-Nawawimentioned that these three supplications are also recommended to be recited after completing wudu and after completing the major bath (ghusl), such as after junub (ritual impurity) or menstruation (haidh). (See Sharh Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim III/121).

Wallahu a’lam (And Allah knows best).