"And My Joy is in the Prayer": The Fiqh of As-Salah by IslamWay Sisters continued

Wudhu (Ablution)

Since being in a state of purity is one of the conditions of prayer, we will briefly discuss wudhu before continuing our discussion on Salah.

Allah (S.W.T) says which means, “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.” (Surat Al-Maeda 5:6)

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said, “Salah (the prayer) of anyone of you will not be accepted if he has a minor impurity until he performs ablution.” (Bukhari)

In many ahadeeth, the Prophet (S.A.W) has outlined the virtues of wudhu. One of which he (S.A.W) said, “He who performed ablution well, his sins would come out from his body, even coming out from under his nails.” (Muslim)

Description of Wudhu:

1. Intention in the heart to perform wudhu.
2. Say “Bismillaah” (In the Name of Allah).
3. Wash the hands three times.
4. Rinse the mouth three times, swirling the water around inside your mouth.
5. Rinse the nose three times and blow the water out.
6. Wash the face three times, from the hairline to the jawbone and chin, and from ear to ear. A man should wash the hair of his beard; if his beard is thin he has to wash it inside and out, and if it is thick and covers the skin, he should wash the surface of it only and run his wet fingers through it.
7. Wash the arms three times, beginning from fingertips up to and including the elbows. Begin with right arm, then the left arm.
8. Wiping the head once with wet hands by putting the wet hands at the front of the head and bring them to the back of the head, then bring them back to the place where one started.
9. Wipe the ears by putting the index fingers in the ears and wipe the back of the ears with the thumbs.
10. Wash the feet three times, from the toes up to and including the ankles. Begin with the right foot, then the left.

Nullifiers of Wudhu

1. Anything that comes out from the front and back passage such as urine, stool, wind, sperm, prostatic fluid or discharge from the urethra.
2. Unconsciousness due to deep sleep (while reclining), fainting, intoxication, madness, some medicine and the like.
3. Touching the private parts without any barrier.
4. Eating camel meat.
5. Touching a woman lustfully.

Note: Some of the above nullifiers are subject to a difference of opinion among the scholars. This was only a very brief discussion of wudhu, to read more about wudhu along with the evidences from the Qur’aan and Sunnah please click here: A Description of How the Prophet (SAW) Made Wudoo' or here: http://www.islam-qa.com/en/cat/254

Disliked Acts During Salah

1. Turning one’s head or sight, the Prophet (S.A.W) said about tuning in prayer, “It is when Satan steals from the prayer of any one of you.” (Bukhari)
2. Looking toward the sky, the Prophet (S.A.W) said, “What is wrong with those people who look toward the sky during prayer? They should stop or else their eyesight would be taken away?” (Bukhari)
3. Placing one’s hand on one’s waist. (as authentically reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
4. Placing one’s forearms flat while prostrating, the Prophet (S.A.W) said, “Perform the prostration properly and do not put your forearms flat with elbows touching the ground like a dog.” (Bukhari)
5. Interlacing one’s fingers and cracking one’s knuckles.
6. Praying with the urge to relieve oneself or anything that disturbs such as extreme hot or cold weather, or extreme hunger or thirst. The Prophet (S.A.W) said, “No prayer should be performed when food is present, or when one is prompted by the call of nature.” (Muslim)
7. Aimless movements (such as playing with one’s beard, fiddling with one’s garment, looking at decorations on the wall or carpet and so on).