CLEANLINESS (TAHARAT)
The Holy Prophethas stated "The key to paradise is Prayer (Salaat),
and the key to Prayer is cleanliness." (Saheeh Muslim). Here
cleanliness means that the place of Prayer and the person's clothes,
should be clean. Furthermore, the person should be clean from the
greater and smaller impurities - i.e. he should not be in need of a
bath (Ghusl) and should be with ablution (Wuzu).
The Holy Prophetsaid: "The angels of mercy do not enter a house in
which there is an image, a dog or a person in a state of greater
impurity (Janabah)." (Abu Dawood).
The water to be used
Water used for bathing or for ablution must be in its natural state -
i.e. free from colour, smell and taste. Furthermore, it must be
unused. If the body is free from impurities, the water once used for
bathing or ablution still remains pure, but cannot be used again for
bathing or ablution. Similarly if one is in need of ablution or bath,
and he dips or touches the water with any unwashed (un-purified) part
of his body (finger, nail, hand etc), it will render the water as used
- and therefore not useful for ablution or bathing. Using such water
for drinking or cooking is disliked (Makrooh). However this water can
be used for washing clothes.
In order to make "used" water capable of being used for bathing or
ablution, add clean unused water in greater quantity to it - or simply
pour more clean unused water in the utensil so that the utensil begins
to overflow. This will make the entire water usable for bathing or
ablution.
Ablution (Wuzu)
The obligations in ablution (wuzu)
The following four (4) acts are obligatory in ablution:
a.Washing the entire face: that is from the top of the forehead to the
bottom of the chin and from ear to ear. Water must flow over the
entire skin area at least once. If the moustache or eyebrows have
thick hair, it is obligatory only to wash the hair. If the hair is
sparse, the skin must also be washed. Similarly, if hair in the beard
is not thick, the inner skin must be washed. The area around the lips
which remains exposed in the natural state when the mouth is closed,
must also be washed.
b.Washing both hands, up to and including the elbows. Washing any body
part means that at least two drops of water must have flowed over each
and every spot of it (not leaving out any spot equal to the breadth of
a hair). Simply wetting the body part or spreading water over it like
oil, or the flowing of just drop is not classified as "washing" - and
will not complete the ablution or bath. All types of ornaments which
are tight to the skin must be removed and the skin below it washed, as
described above. If nail polish has been applied, ablution or bath
cannot be complete without removing it. However, ablution or bath will
be complete in cases where the thing remaining on the skin is such
that it is continuously or sometimes required and to remove it causes
a burden - whether such a thing is above or below the nails or on any
other part of the body - or whether such a thing is hard and water
does not reach the skin below it - such as dough on the hands of
kneaders, paint on the hands of a painter, henna for women, ink for
the writer, sand or mud for the labourer and kohl under the eyelids or
ordinary dirt for the common man.
c."Masah" (Stroking with wet hands) of one fourth of the head: Hands
should be wet for performing the "Masah" whether due to water
remaining from washing the hands, or by wetting them with fresh water.
If the hands remain wet after "Masah", it will not suffice for "Masah"
of any other body part.
d.Washing both feet: It is necessary to wash both feet fully - i.e.
all sides of toes, inner parts of the toes, top part of the toes,
heels, soles and the entire ankles. If water does not reach between
the toes naturally, it is necessary to do "Khilaal", i.e. pass the
little finger between them to make the water reach there.
The Sunnah (Prophet'straditions ) in ablution (wuzu)
The following acts are Sunnah (Prophet'straditions) in ablution:
*.Making an intention (Niyah) for obeying Allah and for the gaining of reward.
*.Performing ablution while sitting in a clean place.
*.Reciting "Bismillah Shareef" at the beginning of ablution.
*.Washing both hands up to the wrists.
*.Brushing the teeth with "Miswaak"
*.Rinsing the mouth thrice with water from the hand.
*.Rinsing the nose thrice by inhaling water up to the nose bone.
*.Using the right hand for inhaling water into the nose.
*.Cleaning the nose with the little finger of the left hand.
*.Inserting fingers between the spaces in the fingers and toes (to
make sure that water passes through it).
*.Running all fingers through the beard.
*.Performing "Masah" of the entire head.
*.Performing "Masah" of the ears.
*.Maintaining proper order of washing of the different body parts.
*.Washing three times each body part that needs to be washed.
*.Washing the next body part before the previous one dries.
Method of performing ablution (wuzu)
Make an intention (Niyah) for obeying Allah and for gaining of reward,
and after reciting "Bismillah Shareef", wash both hands up to the
wrists. Then brush the teeth with "Miswaak". Hold the "Miswaak" in
your right hand - little finger at the bottom, three middle fingers at
the centre, and the thumb at the top bottom side of the "Miswaak".
Begin with the right upper teeth, followed by the left upper teeth.
Then brush the right lower teeth followed by the left lower teeth.
Brushing should be in horizontal movements.
Then taking water from the cup of the hand, rinse the mouth thrice.
Then inhale water into the nose thrice and clean the nose with the
little finger of the left hand.
Then wash the entire face - that is from the top of the forehead
(where the hair begins) to the bottom of the chin and from ear to ear,
without leaving any spot equal to the breadth of a hair unwashed. If
the person is bearded, he should then run his fingers through the
beard.
After this, wash both hands, up to and including the elbows (right
hand first, followed by the left).
Then wet both hands and perform "Masah" of the entire head, as
follows: Join the tips of the three fingers of both hands (i.e. other
than the thumb and the little finger), and keeping them on the
forehead pass them over the entire head till the nape of the neck,
while keeping the palms away from the head. Pass the palms over the
nape of the neck and bring them forward. Then use the upper phalanx of
the index finger to rub the inner part of the ears and the thumb for
the back of the ears. Then use the back of the fingers to do "Masah"
of the sides of the neck.
Then wash both feet up to and including the ankles, beginning with the
right foot. Use the left hand for washing the feet. Insert the left
hand little finger between the spaces of all toes, starting from the
small toe (moving right to left) in case of the right foot, and
starting from the big toe (moving right to left) in case of the left
foot.
Upon completing ablution, make it a habit of reciting the "Kalemah
Shahadat" (The words of bearing witness) as in the Hadith there are
glad tidings of paradise for such a person.
Things that break (nullify) ablution (wuzu)
The following acts (or incidents) break the ablution:
*.Excretion of any matter from the frontal or posterior excretory organs.
*.Vomiting in mouthful quantity.
*.Discharge of blood, pus or yellowish liquid from the body - which
makes the discharge flow.
*.Sleeping while taking support from any object.
*.Flow of water from an infected eye.
*.Laughing out loud whilst in Prayer.
*.Loss of consciousness, or onset of insanity.
The excellence ofMiswaak
The Holy Prophetsaid: "If I had not found it hard for my followers or
the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth
withMiswaakfor every Prayer."
The Holy Prophet () also said: "Make the (brushing with) "Miswaak" a
must - for it cleans the mouth, and the Lord also gets pleased.
(Musnad Ahmed)
Scholars say that using the "Miswaak" has 70 benefits, of which one is
the remembrance of the "Kalemah Tayyebah" (the Pure Words) at the time
of death and ease in death.
Using the "Miswaak" is aSunnahin ablution. The "Miswaak" should
neither be very hard nor very soft. It is better to use "Miswaak" made
from branches of the olive, "pilu" or "neem" trees. The "Miswaak"
should be as thick as the little finger, and a maximum of one span in
length. It should also not be very short so as to make it difficult to
use.
Hold the "Miswaak" in your right hand - little finger at the bottom,
three middle fingers at the centre, and the thumb at the top bottom
side of the "Miswaak". Do not close the fist. In this way, the user
remains protected from "haemorrhoids" (piles). Brushing should be done
in 'horizontal' movements, not in the vertical. Begin with the right
upper teeth, followed by the left upper teeth. Then brush the right
lower teeth followed by the left lower teeth. All these should be done
thrice, and the "Miswaak" be rinsed every time.
BATHING
The 3 obligations on bathing (Ghusl)
a.Gargling: Water must reach right from the lips up to the base of the throat.
b.Inhaling water up to the nose bone: Water must reach through both
nostrils and wet the entire area, up to the nose bone.
c.Washing the entire body in such a manner that water flows over every
part of the body, not leaving dry any spot equal to the breadth of a
hair.
If any food particles are stuck in the teeth, these must be removed.
Likewise the nose must be cleaned from any dust stuck inside it, and
then the nose washed with water up to the beginning of the nose bone.
However, care must be exercised during fasting so as not to overdo it.
Bathing (Ghusl) according toSunnah
Make an intention (Niyah) for bathing and at first wash both hands up
to and including the wrists. Then wash the excretory organs even if
there is no impurity. Then cleanse the body area that has any impurity
and perform the ablution, without washing the feet. If having a bath
on a stand (high area) you may wash the feet too. Next, rub water
(like applying oil) on the body to wet it. Then pour water thrice over
the right shoulder followed by thrice over left shoulder. After this,
pour water over the head thrice and then thrice properly over the
entire body. Rub the hands over the entire body to ensure that no spot
equal to the breadth of a hair remains dry. If the feet had not been
washed at ablution, wash them after moving away from the bathing spot.
While bathing take care that you should not be facing the "Qiblah",
nor speak nor recite any supplications. Also bathe in a place where
there is no exposure.
Things that make bathing compulsory
*.Discharge of semen in state of sexual excitement.
*.Ejaculation while asleep.
*.Intercourse with either sex, whether semen is discharged or not.
*.Woman completing her menses.
*.Stoppage of impurity for a woman after childbirth (or miscarriage etc.).
Tayammum(Purification with soil)
The time forTayammum(When can one doTayammum??)
A person in need of bathing or ablution must do "Tayammum" if he is
incapable of using water. Some important conditions of performing
"Tayammum" are as follows:
*.There should be no sign (or knowledge) of water being available for
a distance of at least one mile, in all the four directions.
*.An illness which would get severely aggravated or get prolonged upon
using water. This could be the person's own judgement from experience
or the opinion of a pious reliable doctor.
*.Extreme cold which could cause the person to die or fall ill if he
takes a bath, and no warm blankets are available to keep out the cold
after bathing.
*.Danger of missing the train or bus etc., if he alights from it in
order to use water.
*.Danger of missing the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer or the congregational Prayers of Eid.
Method and some important rules regardingTayammum
Three things are obligatory in "Tayammum"
a.Making an intention (Niyah) that the particular "Tayammum" is for
ablution or for bath or for both.
b.Passing soiled palms over the entire face, not leaving out a single
spot equal to the breadth of a hair.
c.Passing soiled palms over both arms up to and including the elbows,
not leaving out a single spot equal to the breadth of a hair.
At first, make an intention and after reciting "Bismillah Shareef",
strike the hands on any solid matter which is related to the earth
i.e. soil, mud, stones, marble or any such thing upon which is
considerable dust. If the hands get soiled with too much dust, strike
the base of one thumb upon the base of the other to loosen it. Then
pass both hands over the entire face, not leaving out even a single
spot equal to the breadth of a hair. The area around the lips which
remains exposed in the natural state when the mouth is closed, should
also be covered in this "Masah". If the person is bearded, he should
then run his fingers through the beard.
Strike the hands again on the soil. Now perform "Masah" of the right
arm, by placing the inner portion of all fingers, except the thumb, on
the outer portion of the right arm. Pass the left hand fingers over
the finger tips of the right arm up to the elbow. Coming back from the
elbow pass the palm over the inner side of the right arm up to the
wrist. Then do "Masah" of the right thumb using the inner side of the
left thumb. Similarly, repeat the entire process for the left arm.
While striking the palms on the soil or mud, the fingers must be kept
open. If dust has reached between the fingers, "Khilaal" should be
done (by rubbing other fingers between them). If the palm had been
struck on stone or other such thing by which dust does not reach
between the fingers, then "Khilaal" becomes obligatory.
Women should take extra care during "Tayammum" by moving ornaments
(such as rings) in order not to leave the area below them - whereas
nail polish should be totally removed.
If cold water is harmful in sickness, warm water should be used if
available. If warm water is unavailable, "Tayammum" should be done.
If any portion is covered by a bandage (or plaster) because of an
injury, then "Masah" with wet hands should be done over such bandage -
and the rest of the body washed as usual with water. If pouring water
does not cause harm, water should be poured over such bandage. In due
course if it is not harmful to do "Masah" over the injured part,
"Masah" should be adopted immediately. Later when washing the injured
portion will not cause harm, it will become obligatory to wash it. It
should therefore be understood that when the ability exists, the
superior act must be performed and the lesser act will no more
suffice.
If very little time is left for offering Prayer, and it is feared that
the time will lapse if one takes a bath or performs ablution, one must
perform the "Tayammum" and offer the Prayer. It is however incumbent
to repeat such Prayer after proper bathing or ablution.
If the excuse due to which "Tayammum" was done does not remain any
more, it will make the "Tayammum" invalid. The occurrence of anything
that breaks the ablution will also break the "Tayammum" which was done
in place of ablution. Similarly the occurrence of anything which makes
bathing compulsory will break the "Tayammum" which was done in place
of bathing.
Purifying impure clothes
To purify an impure cloth, first wash it properly and then squeeze it
with full strength until water does not drip from it any more, even if
further strength is applied. Then wash the hands, and again wash the
cloth, squeezing it with full strength until water does not drip from
it any more even if further strength is applied. Wash the hands again
and wash the cloth for a third time - then squeeze it with full
strength until water does not drip from it any more even if further
strength is applied. The cloth has now become pure.
If a person has applied full strength to squeeze out water from the
cloth, it will be pure for him - but if another person having more
strength squeezes it and some more water drips from it, then the cloth
will be pure only for the former and not for the latter.
This rule should be remembered well. Every person should purify his /
her own clothes or else purify them in running water. The method of
doing this is to at first wash the clothes with soap or in a washing
machine, and then put them in a utensil (e.g. bucket) and pour water
into the utensil until the cloth gets covered in the water and the
utensil starts overflowing. The flowing water will render the cloth
pure.
Fine clothes, shoes, carpets etc., which get damaged due to wringing /
squeezing, must be washed and dried until water does not drip from it
any more. Then wash again and let it dry a second time. Then wash
again and let it dry for a third time. This will make it pure.
'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
-
{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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