WUDU

“O believers! when you stand for prayer wash your face and hands to the elbows, wipe your head and wash your feet to the ankles” (Qur'an: 5:6)

Wudu literally means cleanliness and in Shari'ah law it is washing of the three specified parts of the body and wiping of the head. Without Wudu, one cannot perform Salaah or touch the Holy Qur'an. It is important to understand those things that are obligatory in performing Wudu and those which are Sunnah; furthermore, to understand how some things can break Wudu.

Three types of Wudu

1) Fard (Obligatory) Wudu is a must go for performing Salaah and touching the Holy Qur'an.
2) Waajib (Necessary) Wudu is necessary for the Tawaf (round-trip) of the Ka'bah.
3) Mustahabb (Desirable) Wudu is recommended before going to sleep and before having an obligatory bath.

Obligatory aspects of Wudu

There are four compulsory aspects of performing Wudu, it is important that any objects that hinder water from reaching the skin must be removed so that the skin may be washed properly.

1) To wash the face once with purifying water. Length wise the face extends from the hairline of the forehead to below the chin and breadth wise from one earlobe to the other.
2) To wash the hands once up to and including the elbows.
3) Wiping a quarter of the head once with wet hands.
4) Washing the feet once up to and including the ankles.

Sunnah of Wudu

1) Making the intention of performing Wudu. the intention should seek the pleasure of Almighty Allah, and one should intend to remove all impurity or obtain purity in order to perform salaah.
2) To say “Bismillah” at the beginning.
3) Washing both hands to the wrist 3 times.
4) Rinsing the mouth three times using the right hand.
5) Cleaning the nostrils three times with the left hand.
6) Combing the beard with fingers if the beard is thick.
7) Combing of the fingers (and the toes) by passing fingers of one hand through the other.
8) Continuity of washing all parts so that the next part is washed before the previous one is dry.
9) Wiping the whole head.
10) Wiping the ears.
11) Maintaining the order of washing parts mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
12) To begin from the right side.
13) Not to waste water
14) Not to splash water on the face.

Things that will break the Wudu

The following actions will cause the Wudu to be broken:

1) Excretions in the form of urine, faeces or wind.
2) Fluid such as blood or puss flowing from a wound if it exceeds its exit.
3) Vomiting food or other fluids if the mouth becomes full and its restraint is beyond control
4) Sleeping in a reclined position or leaning on something such that if it were to be removed one would fall down. To sleep sitting or standing or in Rukoo or prostration without any support does not break Wudu.
5) Unconsciousness due to madness or swoon or intoxication.
6) Laughing loudly in prayer.