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Waswaas about washing lips in ablution

Question

Assalaamu alaykum. I recently found out that you must not press your lips hard during ablution since if your lips are left dry your ablution is invalid. I think that I have been doing that, but I did not know this fact. Do I have to repeat my prayers? Also please suggest some solution because I suffer from severe Waswaas (obsessive whispers) during ablution and the prayers. May Allaah reward you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we ask Allah to grant you a speedy recovery from the Waswaas and doubts which you suffer from, and we advise you to not pay any attention to them; rather, you should neglect them, as this is the beneficial treatment for them, Allah willing.

When washing the face in ablution, the person should wash the outside of his lips when they are closed naturally. Kifaayat At-Taalib Ar-Rabbaani ‘ala Risaalat Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qayrawaani reads, “Also, he must wash the visible side of his lips and not close them (tightly) when he washes his face.

Moreover, the commentary of Abdul Baaqi on Mukhtasar Khaleel reads, “He washes the visible side of his lips, which is what is visible of them when they meet naturally without exaggerating in closing them.

It seems that your doubts about not washing your lips during ablution is nothing but Waswaas, so you should neglect it and your prayer is valid.

Allah knows best.

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