Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Asking Allah to make a person firm on the Sirat, forgive him, and have mercy on him is good in itself. However, there are two issues here: assigning particular supplications to specific parts of the body during wudu when such supplications have not been authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, and seeking Allah through the status of the Prophet ﷺ, which some scholars prohibit because they do not consider there to be evidence establishing its legitimacy.
First: Assigning Specific Supplications to the Parts Washed in Wudu
Wudu is an act of worship, and the basic principle regarding acts of worship is that they should be performed as authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, without a Muslim establishing regular remembrances or supplications of his own.
It has not been authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ recited a specific supplication when washing his face, another when washing his hands, or another when washing his feet.
A number of hadith scholars have stated that the reports assigning a particular supplication to each body part during wudu are not authentic.
Therefore, a person should not regularly recite a particular supplication for each body part while believing that it is part of the Sunnah of wudu.
If a Muslim happens to supplicate to Allah without believing that the particular supplication is a special Sunnah connected to that body part or place, then the matter is broader. However, it should not be made a fixed part of the prescribed manner of wudu.
What Remembrance Is Prescribed During Wudu?
Among the prescribed remembrances connected to wudu is saying the name of Allah at its beginning and the authentically reported remembrance after completing it.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
[Reported by Muslim]
It is better for a Muslim to adhere to what has been authentically established, because perfection in worship lies in following the Prophet ﷺ.
He ﷺ said:
“Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our matter, it will be rejected.”
[Reported by Muslim]
Second: Seeking Allah Through the Status of the Prophet ﷺ
As for saying in supplication, “through the status of the Prophet ﷺ” or “by the right of the Prophet ﷺ,” this is one of the forms of tawassul over which scholars have differed.
The position adopted by the original fatwa is that it should be avoided, because although the Prophet ﷺ has an exalted rank and noble status before Allah, those who hold this view do not believe that there is evidence establishing that Allah prescribed making the Prophet’s status itself a means in supplication.
The issue is not one of denying the virtue or status of the Prophet ﷺ. Rather, the question is: Has this particular form of supplication been established as prescribed?
Those who prohibit it consider supplication an act of worship, and acts of worship require evidence.
Does This Mean That Love for the Prophet ﷺ Cannot Be Used in Tawassul?
Love for the Prophet ﷺ, belief in him, and following him are among the greatest righteous deeds. A servant may seek nearness to Allah through his faith, obedience, and righteous deeds.
A Muslim may ask Allah through His mercy, His Names and Attributes, or seek nearness to Him through his faith, repentance, and obedience.
However, making the Prophet’s status alone a means for the acceptance of supplication is the point disputed and prohibited by those who hold this view.
Do Not Believe That This Formula Guarantees the Acceptance of Supplication
The belief that Allah will never reject the supplication of someone who seeks Him through the status of the Prophet ﷺ needs correction, because one should not assert that a particular formula guarantees the acceptance of du‘a unless there is religious evidence for that claim.
The acceptance of supplication has many causes and etiquettes, including sincerity to Allah, presence of the heart, having good expectations of Allah, seeking virtuous times, consuming lawful earnings and food, and avoiding impatience.
Conclusion
Supplicating for firmness on the Sirat, forgiveness, and mercy is permissible and good. However, specific parts of the body during wudu should not be assigned particular supplications as though they are part of the Sunnah, because this has not been authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ.
As for saying, “through the status of the Prophet ﷺ,” a group of scholars prohibit it because they do not consider there to be evidence establishing the legitimacy of this type of tawassul, while fully affirming the Prophet’s ﷺ exalted rank before Allah.
The safer course and the one closer to the Sunnah is for a Muslim to supplicate directly to Allah, seek nearness to Him through His Names and Attributes and through one’s faith and righteous deeds, and adhere to the authentically reported remembrances connected to wudu.
And Allah knows best.