Ablution (Wudu)
We are commanded in the Holy Qur’an:
O, you who believe, when you get ready for prayer, wash your faces
and your hands (and arms) up to the elbows; and lightly rub your
heads with water; and wash your feet up to the ankles.
If you are unclean, take a full bath.
If you are unwell or on a journey and you come from the toilet or you
had been in sexual union and you find no water for a bath, then take
some clean earth and rub your faces and your hands with it.
Allah does not wish you to be in any difficulty except to purify
you and complete His favour to you that you may be grateful. (Surath Al Ma’yida: 6):
The rewards we receive when we perform Wudu for Salaah
have been described to us by The Prophet of Islam S.A.W.S.:
When the servant of Allah commences the ablution,
The Muslim’s body starts shedding sins,
From the moment the mouth is cleaned,
The nose cleared,
The face (and eyelashes)
The hands (and their nails),
The head,
The ears and
The feet (and their nails) are washed clean.
In such a state of cleanliness, when the Muslims reach
the Masjid for Salaah, they receive from Allah rewards
of sheer magnificence."
Accordingly, our Wudu is based on the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. Sallallahu Alaihi va Sallam:
How Do We Perform the Ablution (Wudu)
We face the Qiblah, Makkathul Mukarramah.
Make the Niy’yathh for Wudu in our hearts and say “BISMILLAH”.
Wash both hands up to the wrists thoroughly three times.
It is best to use a siwak, a clean twig, as a toothbrush. We clean our teeth, mouth and tongue three times with mouthfuls of water introduced by the right hand.
We clean our nostrils thrice with water introduced by the right hand.
The left thumb and forefinger are used for cleaning inside the nostrils.
We bring our hands together to form a bowl, fill with water and wash our face from the hairline down to under the chin and from one ear lobe to the other in a thorough manner. We do this three times.
We wash our forearms thrice. Filling our cupped hands with water, we raise them a little so the water flows down to the Right elbow and covers it. We do this thrice and repeat for the left forearm likewise.
We perform ‘masah’: Cupping our hands together, we fill them with water and let it flow out. Joining the wet fingers of both hands, we pass the fingertips over the nose and on to the forehead and wipe the head lightly with our wet palms right upto the back of the neck. In the process we put our forefingers into each ear and the thumbs on the back of the ears and wipe them clean.
We bring our hands back, move them from the forehead and wipe the back of the neck clean with the back of our hands.
Finally we wash our feet, first the right one and then the left, upto and including the ankles, three times.
We recite the masnoon Du’aa:
ASH-HADU AN'LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAHU WAHDAHU LAA SHAREEKA LAHU , VA
(I solemnly declare that there is no God except Allah. He has no equal and He is the Only One. And I solemnly declare that Mohammed S.allallahu Alaihi wa Sallam is His slave and His messenger. Ya Allah, kindly bless me to be of those who repent and seek Your Grace; and bless me to be of those who are really clean in all respects; and bless me to be among those who are righteous and devout in their prayer to You. A'meen!)
Other things to note:
After a Rest Room Break:
Before entering the bathroom, we say: “Bismillah” and recite
“AOOZUBILLAHI MINAL QUBSI VAL QABAAYIS”.
("I seek Allah’s protection from the (evil and) demonic beings,
both male and female”).
While coming out, we say ”GHUFRAANAKA. ALHAMDULILLAHILLAZEE AZ-HABA ANNIL AZAA VA AAFAANEE”. (“All praise to Allah Who has granted me relief; and a potentially harmful substance has been removed from my system”).
It is best to clean the affected parts with the left hand.
It is forbidden to face (or have our back to) the Qiblah (Makkah) while relieving ourselves.
We must not pass urine or waste matter into any hole in the earth or in the building (except the urinal and the toilet) or on the bunds of (or into) tanks, ponds, lakes or rivers.
We must not use (for cleaning or wiping our genitals etc.) bones or the like (as these are the food of supernatural beings). Toilet tissue is allowed. (It may be followed by a wash where water is available).
We must not talk or carry on conversation during the above process.
