Ritual System - Kitaab ul-Tahara

Muslim Jurists agree that ablution is of three types: ablution (Wudhu), complete ablution/bathing (Ghusl) and dry ablution (Tayammum)- all of which will be described according to the Shafi’i School of Thought.
Ablution (Wudhu) becomes obligatory (Fard) upon a person when the time for prayer has entered or when intending to do any other act of worship for which ablution is a prerequisite.

The obligatory parts of Ablution are:

Intention
This is the desire to do the action and to please Allah(swt) by following His command.

Washing the face
This involves pouring water from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the jaw, and from one ear to the other.

Washing the arms to the elbow
The elbows must be washed

Wiping the head
This involves wiping the head with the hands, starting from the front of the head, moving back to the nape of the neck and then returning the hands to the front.

Washing the feet and heels
This involves washing the feet to the ankles If the latter components are not fulfilled this makes one’s ablution void.
The recommended(Mandoub) parts of Wudhu are:
Rinsing the mouth
Snuffing water up the nose
Running one’s fingers through the beard
Running one’s fingers through the fingers and toes

Repeating each wash three times
Wiping the ears
Beginning each action with the right side

Rubbing the limbs with water
Supplication after ablution

The following nullify wudhu:

Any excretion of the penis, vagina or anus. This would be urine, faeces, prostratic fluid, ejaculation of sperm and releasing wind.

Deep sleep that makes a person completely unaware of his surroundings
Loss of consciousness

Touching the sexual organs without any barrier

Touching a woman

Vomiting

Bleeding

The following actions do not nullify wudhu:

Eating meat

Having doubt if one has released wind or not

Laughing during prayer

Washing dead person

Actions that require ablution as a prerequisite include:

Any type of ritual prayer
Circumambulating the Ka’bah
Reading the Qur’an

Actions for which a state of ablution is recommended(Mandoub) include:

Mentioning the Name of Allah(swt)

Going to sleep
Before performing Ghusl

Renewing the ablution for each prayer
Ghusl means to wash the entire body. It becomes obligatory upon a person when in a state of ritual impurity and wishes to fulfil the commands of Allah(swt) i.e. Salah.

Concerning Ghusl there are two things the Shari’ah requires:

Intention (Niyyah)
Washing all parts of the body


The opinion of the jurists is that Ghusl is a must when:

Discharge of Al-Mani (Ejaculation of sperm) while asleep or awake

If the sperm is discharged without any type of stimulation

If one has a wet dream

If the penis enters the vagina even though there was no ejaculation

After menstruation

After post child birth bleeding

A person passes away

Actions that are forbidden to the impure include: touching or carrying the Qur’an, reciting the Qur’an, staying at the mosque, and circumambulating the Ka’bah.

Actions for which Ghusl is recommended are:

Before the Jummah prayer
Before Eid prayers

For washing a corpse

For Hajj

A non-Muslim embracing Islam

Ghusl is to be performed in the following manner by both men and women:

Wash both hands three times

Wash the private areas

Make a complete ablution

Wash the head

Pour water over the entire body starting with the right side first


Dry Ablution (Tayammum) literally means: ‘aim, purpose’. In Shari’ah terminology it refers to ‘seeking soil to wipe ones face and hands with the intention of preparing oneself to pray’.

The soil used for Tayammum must be pure soil: this can be sand or stone. All of the scholars agree that the soil is that which covers the earth, dirt or otherwise.

Tayammum is permissible when:
Water cannot be found to do wudhu

If the water is too cold and may harm the individual

One is injured or ill

While in a state of Tayammum one can pray, touch and read the Qur’an.

In addition to water becoming available, everything that nullifies the ablution nullifies the Tayammum.