Ablution (Wudhu)

Ablution (Wudhu)

Prior to entering Salaat (prayer), the person is required to undertake a certain purification procedure known as "Wudhu" without which, the person's prayer would not be acceptable in the sight of "Allah" . This performance is called "wudhu".

InQuran 5:6 Allah says:

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles . If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful.”

Rasoolullah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“The Prayer of anyone of you breaching purification is not accepted unless he makes wudoo.”[Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim (no.225) and others].

Rasoolullah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) say:

“ Allah does not accept Prayer without purification, nor Sadaqah from illegally attained wealth.”[Muslim (1/160) and others].

Note- The water must also be pure (taahir),  impure (naajis) water cannot be used for wudoo’. One must also remove anything that could prevent water from reaching the skin and nails, such as nail polish, rings.In circumstances were water cannot be found, or there is only just enough for drinking, or if water is injurious to health, in such circumstances one can perform  Tayammum (dry ablution ).

How To Perform  Wudhu

Step 1- Declare the intention for Wudhu in your heart

Intention is the basic of all actions. Before Wudhu, make the niyyah that you are performing an act of worshipping Allah by making Wudhu.

Step 2- Say Bismillah  (In the Name of Allah)

Start your Wudhu by saying Bis-millaah-hir-rahman-nir-raheem ( I begin with the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful ).

Step 3- Washing hands

Wash the right hand up to and including the wrists.  Make sure to rub between the fingers of the hand. And thus make sure no part of the hand is left dry.  Do it three  times.

Then do the same with the left hand. (three times).

Step 4- Rinse your mouth

Make a cup with the right hand then from this hand take water into your mouth and swirl it inside the mouth and then expel out of mouth. Do it three times. Try to use a miswaak (toothstick) before rinsing your mouth because it is a sunnah . Be careful not to swallow the water if you are fasting (Roza).

Step 5- Clean your nose

Take some water with your right hand and gently up into your nostrils, and make sure it reaches into the nasal passage and then clean the nose with the small finger of left hand and blow the water out. Do it three times.

Step 6- Wash your face

Wash the face three times, from the hairline to the jawbone and chin, and from start of the ear to start of the other side of ear. Do it three times.

Note- A man should wash the hair of his beard by taking a handful of water and entering it below his chin and rubbing it through his beard and passing the wet fingers through the beard.

Step 7- Wash your forearms

Put some water into the palm of right hand and then raise your forearm letting the water run down your arms upto and including the elbows. Do it three times. Each time pass fingers of the left hand over the forearms to make sure arms is completely wet and no part is left dry. Do the same with left arm also three times.

The arm extends from the fingertips, including the nails, to the lower part of the upper arm. Make khilaal ( pass fingers of one hand between the fingers of other hand ) for both hands.

Note- It is essential to remove anything stuck to the hands before washing them, such as dough, mud, paint, nail polish etc, which could prevent the water from reaching the skin.

Step 8- Perform Masah

Wet the hands and fingers and then keep the 3 fingers (middle finger, ring finger and little finger) of each hand together. Pass the three fingers set from front of the head  (beginning of hairline) and wipe the head  backwards until you reach the nape.  Then bring them back to the front of the head (beginning of hairline). Keep the index finger and thumb raised away from the rest and don’t place them on the head. This is done once only .

Using the same wet hands, place the index fingers inside the lobe of your ears and then wipe the back of your ears using your thumbs. Do not wet your hands inbetween.

Note- With regard to a woman’s hair, she should wipe it whether it is loose or braided from the front of her head to the roots of the hair at the nape and then bring forward as above, but she does not have to wipe the entire length of her hair.

Step 9- Washing feets

Wash the  right feet up to  and including  the ankles.You should enter the water between the toes with your little finger and then wash the foot (note not wipe feet but wash them) and make sure you wash the sole of the foot and heals. Make sure no parts of the foot is left dry. Do it three times. Do same for left feet.

Step 10- Read Du'aa After the Wudoo

Read anyone of these below du'aa after completing Wudhu.

“Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu.”

( I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.)

“Allaahumm aj’alni min al-tawwaabeena waj’alni min al-mutatahhireena”

(  O Allah, make me one of those who repent and make me one of those who purify themselves)

“Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bi hamdika, ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka”

(Glory and praise be to You, O Allah,  I bear witness that there is no god but You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You).

Note- It is better to read these du'aa by looking at sky.

Matters which Invalidate the Wudhu

The person will remain in a state of Wudhu until any of the following matters is committed:

(1)   Anything coming out of the Anus or penis/vagina such as urine, feaces or gas etc.

(2) A person falling sound Sleep

(3) Becoming Unconscious - insanity or fainting or intoxication

(4) Touching the Uncovered Private Parts

(5)  Touching a Woman  which  leads to prostatic fluid or semen being emitted. A man can  touch, kiss and hug his wife and his wudhu will still be valid. It will only break if these actions lead to  the emmision of prostatic fluid or semen.