Pillars of Islam: Taharah (Purification)

The Key to Paradise is Salah and the Key to Salah is Taharah'. Cleanliness of the body and clothes is called Taharah. Prayer, according to the Quran and Hadith, is the means for purification of soul, and of the body and the garments a man wears, which is declared to be necessary as a preparation for prayer. The importance of outward cleanliness in the religion of Islam may be shown and understood from the following verse of the Quran: 'Surely Allah loves those who turn much to Him, and He loves those who purify themselves' (2:222)

Hadith also lays special stress on outward purification. In a Hadith it is stated that 'purification is half of faith.' The implication is clear, inward purity is the real-aim, but outward purity is a necessary preparation. A pure mind in a pure body is the watchword of Islam. The making of outward purification as a necessary preparation for prayer is not intended only to direct attention to the real aim which is the purity of the soul, but also to ensure constant purification of the body which is in itself a great necessity of life, for the man who purifies himself five times a day would undoubtedly be in a constant state of physical purity.

Ablution (Wudu) The first condition of bodily purification is Wudu. The word Wudu in the testimony of Islamic law means the washing of certain parts of the body before offering prayers. Ablution is performed to seek cleanliness from the Minor Invisible Uncleanness (Najasah-Hukmiyyah).

Wudu is essential for performing Salah. Offering Salah without performing ablution is a grave sin. So much so that some of the religious scholars hold that a person intentionally posturing for Salah without ablution, is a Kafir.

One should, at the time of ablution, make up one's mind that he is performing the ablution in order to remove uncleanness, secure cleanness and be able to say the prayers in the right manner. This very thought or affirmation in mind is considered as intention for the ablution.

• wash both hands upto the wrists three times making sure that water has reached between the fingers;
• Put a handful of water into the mouth and rinse it thoroughly three times;
• After this, sniff water into the nostrils three times to clean them and then wash the tip of the nose three times;
• Wash the face three times from right ear to left ear and from forehead to chin;
• Wash the right arm and then left arm thoroughly from wrist to elbow three times;
• Then move the palm of the wet hand over head, starting from the top of forehead to the back and pass both hands over the back of the head to the neck;
• Next, rub wet fingers into the groves of both ears and holes and also pass the wet thumbs behind the ears;
• Next pass the back of wet hands over the neck;
• Finally wash both feet to the ankles starting from the right and making sure that water has reached between the toes and other parts of the feet.

Washing once the different parts of the body during ablution is obligatory. To do it thrice is Masnun (precept of the Prophet). To perform it more than three times is Makruh (undesirable and forbidden).

If a complete Wudu is performed before putting on the socks, it is not necessary to take them off everytime Wudu is repeated. It is enough to wipe the upper part of the socks with wet hands. Such Wudu lasts for twenty four hours (three days for a journey) but a fresh Wudu must be made after socks are taken off.

• washing the face over from one's hair tips on the forehead down to the chin and from one ear to another;
• washing the two hands and wrists including the elbows;
• performing the Mas-h (wiping with wet hands, to the extent of one fourth of one's head);
• washing one's feet over including the ankles.

• affirmation of intention;
• reciting Bismillah;
• washing the hands thrice including the wrists;
• brushing one's teeth with a tooth-stick (Miswak);
• rinsing the mouth thrice;
• passing water into the nostrils thrice;
• passing one's fingers across each other as well as through one's toes;
• passing one's finger through one's beard;
• washing every limb three times;
• performing the mas'h over one's entire head once;
• performing the mas-h of the two ears;
• executing the various details of ablution in their proper order;
• washing the limbs in quick succession so that by the time the next part is washed, the one washed already does not turn dry.

• to begin the ablution from the right to the left;
• performing mas-h of the neck;
• helping oneself while doing ablution without seeking the help of others;
• facing Qiblah; and e) sitting on a clean, raised spot, for it.

• performing ablution at an unclean spot;
• blowing one's nose with the right hand;
• talking worldly things while performing ablution;
• performing ablution against the norms of sunnah.

• discharging urine, excretion or any other thing from one's body;
• passing wind from the rectum;
• passing blood or puss from the body;
• throwing out a mouthful of vomit;
• sleeping either in a posture of lying or resting the body against some support;
• falling senseless on account of illness or on some other account;
• going mad;
• bursting into laughter while offering Salah.

Ablution, also, does not get nullified if one sees with or without intention the part of his own or another's body meant for hiding (satr). Wudu may be performed before every prayer, but the necessity of it arises if it gets invalid.

• pollutio nocturna or ihtilam;
• coitus or sexual intercourse and in case of women specially;
• Menses or haidz and;
• puerperium or nifas.

• bath for Friday prayers;
• bath for the prayers of the two Ids;
• bath before putting on Ihram (cloth specially worn by Hajj pilgrims);
• bath before staying at Arafat.

• bath on the fifteenth of the month of Sha'ban.
• bath in the night of Arafah i.e. in the night following the evening of the 8th Zulhijjah.
• bath for the Salah of the solar and lunar eclipse.
• bath for the salatul-Istisqa (prayers for the rains).
• bath before entry into holy cities of Mecca and Madina.
• bath by a person who has given bath to a dead body.
• bath by an unbeliever after he has embraced Islam.

• rinsing the mouth.
• passing water into nostrils.
• pouring water all over the body.

• washing the hands including wrist joints;
• washing secret parts as well as the parts of the body which are unclean;
• having the intention to remove uncleanness;
• performing ablution;
• pouring water thrice all over the body.

• wasteful use of water;
• talking during the bath with the satr uncovered;
• facing Qiblah;
• bathing against the precepts of the holy Prophet.