Ablution (Wudu)

Ablution or Wudu is the act of washing those parts of the body, which are generally exposed and private unexposed parts and are therefore unclean.

It is performed in the following manner:

Make sure that the water with which you perform Ablution is pure, clean and fresh (not used before) its colour, taste and smell are unchanged.

Have the full intention of performing the Ablution for offering Salaat.

(Bis-Millah-Hir Rahmanir-Raheem)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Start the procedure by declaring "In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful" with the belief and power of these divine words, Allah who has built in water the quality to get rid of impurity, will clean your body. Repeat this declaration while washing every part of your body.

Wash excreta and urine from private parts thoroughly after using toilet when necessary.

Wash hands up to the wrists three times, passing the fingers in between each other.

Then clean mouth with brush or finger and gargle with water three times.

Rinse the nostrils thrice with water. Each time take in water up to nose bone with right hand palm full. Blow out water through the nose; use left hand for cleaning out expectoration each time.

Wash the face from the forehead to the chin bone and from ear to ear three times. Use wet fingers through the beard to wet the face-skin.

Wash the right arm followed by the left up to the elbows three times.

Take the cap off. Brush up the whole head with wet hands, pass the wet tips of the index finger inside and the wet tips of the thumb outside the ears, and pass over the outer surface of the backs of hands over the nape and the sides of the neck.

Wash the feet up to the ankles, the right foot first and then the left, taking care to wash in between the toes, each three times. Use only left hand to wash both the feet. Use little finger of left hand. Start from right small toe and work between toes up to the right toe thumb. Then from left toe thumb between toes with left-hand clean up to left small toe last. Make sure no part of any foot remains dry.

Obligatory Acts in the Performance of Ablution

The Obligatory Acts in the performance of Ablution are four.

• Washing the face.
• Washing both arms up to the elbows.
• Brushing over a quarter of the head with wet hands.
• Washing both feet up to the ankles.

Water for Ablution

If the water to be used for Ablution is stagnant, one should make sure that the cistern measures ten meters by ten meters by 30cm and is full of water.

Socks

If a person wears impermeable footwear after the performance of the Ablution, it is not necessary to remove it for a fresh Ablution. One may just pass over it wet fingers as if one were tracing lines on it. Travellers can take advantage of this concession for three days and three nights, others for one day and one night. (Travellers are those covering 48 miles (80 km) in one day away from home).

Bath (Ghusal)

The obligatory conditions that must be fulfilled for a valid performance of an obligatory Bath are:

• The person should have the intention to clean the body from impurity at the time of performing the bath and recite (before taking off clothes):

(Bis-Millah-Hir Rahmanir-Raheem)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

• To wash all parts of the body thoroughly, including hair.
• He or she should wash hands, up to the wrists thrice.
• Filth must be removed, if there be any, from any of the parts of the body.
• One should then perform full Ablution as described before.
• Lastly wash thrice all the parts of the body, including the hair thoroughly.

Tayammum (dry Ablution and bath)

When a person is sick or access to water is not possible. One may perform what is called Tayammum in place of Ablution and bath.

The essential requisites for the performance of Tayammum are as under:

• Have the intention in mind to perform the Tayammum for the removal of impurities.
• Strike pure earth lightly with the palms of both the hands.
• Pass the palms of the hands over the face once.
• Strike lightly pure earth with the palms of both the hands and rub alternately from the tips of the fingers to the elbows, the forearms and the hands.

Acts which make the Ablution Void

• Answering the call of nature, discharge of urine, wind or semen or issue of worm or any impure matter from the front or the hind private parts.
• The act of vomiting a mouthful of matter.
• Emission of blood or pus from a wound, to such an extent that it flows or passes the limits of the mouth of the wound.
• Loss of consciousness through sleep, drowsiness, etc.
• Temporary insanity, fainting, hysteria or intoxication.
• Audible laughter during Salaat.

The same occurrences nullify Tayammum also, but in addition Tayammum is nullified as soon as the cause for performing it is removed, i.e., if the sick person recovers, and access to water becomes possible. Fresh Tayammum should be performed for every Salaat.

Three acts, which are forbidden without the performance of Ablution or Tayammum, are:

• Salaat
• Tawaf-e-Ka'aba
• Carrying or touching the Holy Qur’an.

Cover of Man/Woman

Satar means to cover that part of the human body, which is compulsory. The Satar of a man is to cover his body from the navel to below the knees.

The Satar of a woman is her entire body from head to feet excepting the face and the hands. Hands should be well covered so those hairs are not visible at all.

Before commencing Salaat, it is compulsory to have one’s Satar covered.

Istiqbale Qiblah (to face Holy Ka’aba)

Istiqbale Qiblah means to face the direction in which the Holy Ka’aba is located. The Namazi must face the Qiblah when performing Salaat.

Intention

The Namazi must make the Intention in the mind of the particular Salaat about to be performed.

Salaat

The performance of Salaat five times daily is obligatory (Fardh) at proper time upon all adult Muslims - male and female. The Five compulsory Salaat are:

1. Fajar (morning), 2. Zuhr (early afternoon), 3. Asr (late afternoon), 4. Maghrib (evening), 5. Ishaa (night).