Cleanliness: Wudu (Ablution)

It is highly virtuous to remain in Wadu condition at all times. The general rule is one should make fresh ablution before each prayer, however, one’s wadu is valid until unless the following one of the eight (8) conditions take place known as the nullifiers of Ablution (Nawaquid of Wudu), namely:

Things which Nullify Wudhu:

1. Discharging urine; feces, or any other matter from these passages.
2. Passing stomach gases from the back.
3. The flow of blood, or pus from any part of the body.
4. Mouthful-vomiting.
5. To fall asleep, while lying down, or when leaning against something.
6. Fainting due to illness, or for any other reason.
7. Going mad; insane.
8. Laughing aloud in Prayers (Salat)

If a person requires wadu he or she is in a state of Hadather Asghar. It is makrooh Tahrimi to touch the Holy Quran or even the empty spaces of the pages. but is permissible to recite the Quran without touching. If a verse of the Holy Quran is written on a page that is not a part of the Holy Quran i.e., books, or newspapers, it will be permissible to touch the book or page but not the verse. minor children may touch the Quran without Wudhu, It is not permissible to perform Salaat.

Islamic ablution (Wudu) consists of many actions Some actions are absolutely obligatory’ (Fard). without these actions the ablution is invalid. There are some actions that may be left out, the ‘ablution’ will not be invalidated; though it will be improper (Naquis). Such actions are called ‘Sunnah’. There are certain other actions that bring greater blessings of Allah, known as ‘desirables’ (Mustahab’bat). If these are left out, no harm is done

No doubt clean water plays important role in achieving purity, alternatively in absence of water or health reasons the dry ablution is ordered by Almighty Allah.

Obligatory (Fard) actions in Ablution:

There are four compulsory actions (Fard) in Ablution:

1. Washing the face from the hair of the forehead to the lower portion of the chin, and across from one ear to the other;
2. Washing both hands and arms up to the elbows.
3. Performing the Masa’h (wiping with wet hands, one-fourth of one’s head).
4. Washing both the feet up to the ankles.

Sunnah actions in Ablution:

• Saying the Intention (Niyyah).
• Reciting ‘Bismillah’.
• Washing the hands, three times, up to the wrists.
• Brushing teeth with a tooth-stick (Miswak).
• Rinsing the mouth, thrice.
• Sniffing water into the nostrils, thrice.
• Combing (doing Khilal) the beard with the fingers.
• Passing fingers of both hands, against each other, and also passing them through the toes (Khilal of fingers and toes).
• Washing, each limb, three times.
• Performing the Masa’h once over the whole head i.e. wiping head with wet hands.
• Performing the Masa’h of the two ears.
• Performing Ablution (Wudu) in proper order.
• Washing each part, one after the other, without pause, to ensure that no part dries up before the next step.

Desirable (Mustahab) actions in Ablution:

• To begin Ablution (Wudu) from the right side Some scholars regard this among the Masnun (Sunnah) acts. This is quite likely.
• Performing ‘Masa’h’ of the nape.
• Performing Ablution all by himself, without taking others’ help.
• Facing Qiblah.
• Performing Ablution while sitting at a clean and elevated place.

Undesirable (Makrooh) actions in Ablution:

• Performing Ablution in a dirty place.
• Blowing one’s nose with the right hand.
• Talking worldly affairs while performing Ablution.
• Performing Ablution in a manner contrary to Sunnah.

Complete list of actions in Ablution:

• With the intention of saying the prayers (Salat) one should take running clean water (or take water in a clean bucket etc.
• Wash hands up to the wrists.
• Rinse the mouth three times; brush the teeth.
• Sniff water into each nostril, three times; cleanse the nose.
• wash the face, three times.
• hands, up to the elbows.
• Perform ‘Masa’h of the head and ears (moving palms of wet hands overhead, starting from the top of the forehead to the back and passing both hands over the back of the head to the neck.
• Rub wet fingers into the grooves of both ears and holes, and also pass the wet thumbs behind the ears).
  Wash the feet, including the ankles.