MAIL OF ISLAM
™
Knowledge & Wisdom
MAIL OF ISLAM
™
Knowledge & Wisdom
CLEANLINESS IN ISLAM
Cleanliness is very important in Islam to perform various Islamic observances.
The beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Cleanliness is half the faith (Imaan).”
[Sahih Muslim]
In this chapter, we are going to discuss all the types of cleanliness related subjects such as types of Water in Islam, Ghusl (Obligatory bath) and Wudu (Ablution).
1 - TYPES OF WATER IN ISLAM
Water is an important material in relation to purification. Islam divides water into 3 categories and explains us each of them.
1. Tahoor which is pure in itself and able to purify others
2. Tahir which is pure in itself, but cannot purify others
3. Najis which is contaminated by a filthy substance
1.1 TAHOOR
Tahoor is naturally cleaned water. It is pure in itself and able to purify others. Hence, only Tahoor water can be used for Obligatory bath and Wudu purposes. Examples are:
• Rain water
• Spring, sea or river water
• Water of melting snow or hail
• Water of a big tank or pond
• Well water
• Cleaned pipe water
If the water;
(1) reaches the quantity of Qullatain (approx. 216 litres); or
(2) if it is running,
then it cannot become contaminated (with filth), unless, if it changes its
(1) colour or (2) taste or (3) smell
Otherwise, the water (which is standing and less than 216 litres) become Najis if contaminated with filth.
1.2 TAHIR
Tahir is pure in itself but cannot purify others. Hence, Tahir can be drunk but cannot use for Obligatory bath and Wudu purposes.
Examples are :
1. Milk
2. Soft Drinks
3. King Coconut water
4. Rose water
1.3 NAJIS
Najis water is impure in itself and will make others impurity when it mix with them.
Examples are:
1. Urine
2. Drainage water
2 - GHUSL (BATH)
2.1 WHEN DOES AN OBLIGATORY BATH BECOME COMPULSORY?
1. After having sexual intercourse
2. After having orgasmic discharge (e.g. semen)
3. After a person died by natural causes
And for women,
4. After completion of the menstrual cycle
5. After postpartum bleeding
2.2 WHICH ARE THE ACTS SHOULD NOT BE DONE AT THE STATE OF MAJOR IMPURITY
(I.E. AT THE TIME WHEN A PERSON IS OBLIGED TO TAKE COMPULSORY BATH)
1. Praying (Salah)
2. Residing in the Masjid (Mosque)
3. Reciting Holy Quran
4. Touching Holy Quran
5. Performing Tawaf at Ka’baa
2.3 THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE PERFORMING AN OBLIGATORY BATH
1. Water should be the type of Tahoor (Pls refer the Chapter 3.1 : TYPES OF WATER IN ISLAM)
2. Paint or any sort of items which prevent the water to touch the skin should be removed in order to allow the water to reach the skin underneath it.
2.4 HOW TO PERFORM AN OBLIGATORY BATH?
2.4.1 Fard of Ghusl (Bath)
Fard means the compulsory actions must be performed in order to validate the bath. In other words, without Fard, the bath will not be accepted.
1. Intention (Niyyah) - You should intend from your heart as:
“I perform obligatory bath to purify from the major impurity”
2. You should bath in the way that the entire body gets wet by the water.
2.4.2 Sunnah of Ghusl (Bath)
Sunnah means the traditions of beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him). Performing these actions will give you many merits and blessings of God. However omitting these actions will not invalidate your bath. Some are:
1. Reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah the most beneficent and the most merciful)
2. Washing both the hands up to the wrists
3. Gargling three times
4. Washing the private parts and removing dirt or filth from the body
5. Performing Ablution (Wudu)
6. Taking water and rubbing it into the roots of his hair with his fingers
7. Water should be poured over the head three times so that it flows all over the body
2.4.3 A complete Bathing method
A complete bathing method is a mix of Fard and Sunnah where the compulsory actions are performed in order to validate the Bath and the voluntary actions are performed in order to get more blessings and merits.
So we recommend you to perform a complete bath whenever you are in the need of performing Obligatory bath.
A method of complete Bath
1. Reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
2. Making Intention (Niyyah) as mentioned above in Fard of Ghusl (Bath)
3. Washing both the hands up to the wrists
4. Gargling three times
5. Wash the private parts and remove dirt or filth from the body
6. Performing Ablution (Wudu)
7. Take water and rub it into the roots of his hair with his fingers
8. Water should be poured over the head three times so that it flows all over the body
9. Water should wet entire body so that no part of the body is left dry.
2.5 THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LADIES WHEN PERFORMING OBLIGATORY BATH
1. Nail police, Lipstick and other similar types of cosmetics should be removed before taking the bath in order to allow the water to reach the skin and wet entire body.
2. If you have worn nose ring, ear ring or necklace, you must remove it in order to allow the water to reach the skin underneath it.
3 - WUDU (ABLUTION)
3.1 WHEN DOES WUDU BECOME COMPULSORY?
1. To offer the prayers
2. To touch Holy Quran
(However, Holy Quran can be recited without touching it as by heart without perform Wudu)
3. To perform Tawaf at Ka’baa.
3.2 THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE PERFORMING WUDU
1. Water should be the type of Tahoor (Pls refer the Chapter 3.1 : TYPES OF WATER IN ISLAM)
2. Paint or any sort of items which prevent the water to touch the skin should be removed in order to allow the water to reach the skin underneath it.
3.3 HOW TO PERFORM WUDU (ABLUTION)?
3.3.1 Fard of Wudu (Ablution)
Fard means the compulsory actions must be performed in order to validate the Wudu. In other words, without Fard, the Wudu will not be accepted. Those are:
1. Making Intention (Niyyah)
You should intend from your heart as:
“I perform wudu”
2. Washing the face
3. Washing both the arms including the elbows
4. Wiping one fourth of the head with wet hand
5. Washing both the feet up to and including the ankles
6. Performing all the above actions in the same order.
3.3.2 Sunnah of Wudu
Sunnah means the traditions of beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him). Performing these actions will give you many merits and blessings of God. However omitting these actions will not invalidate your Wudu. Some of them are:
1. Reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (In the name of Allah the most beneficent and the most merciful)
2. Performing all the acts three times
3. Washing both the hands up to the wrists
4. Cleaning the nose with the water
5. Rinsing the mouth with the water
6. Brushing the teeth specially using Miswak
7. Rubbing the ears with wet hands
8. Each action should be done continuously, so no part dries up before wudu is completed
9. Performing wudu towards the Qiblah
10. Each acts should be started in right side and then the left
11. Reciting Dua (prayer) for ablution after performed.
12. Offering 2 Rakhat prayer called “Salat Tahiyyat al Wudu”
3.3.3 A complete Wudu method
A complete Wudu method is a mix of Fard and Sunnah where the compulsory actions are performed in order to validate the Wudu and the voluntary actions are performed in order to attain more blessings and merits.
So we recommend you to perform a complete Wudu whenever you are in the need of performing Wudu.
A method of complete Wudu
1. Making intention (Niyyah) of Wudu as mentioned above in Fard of Wudu (Ablution)
2. Reciting Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
3. Washing both the hands up to the wrists (3 times)
4. Cleaning the nose with the water (3 times)
5. Rinsing the mouth with the water (3 times)
6. Washing the entire face (3 times)
Vertically - From the hairline on the forehead to bottom of the Chin
Horizontally – From right earlobe to left earlobe
7. Washing both the arms from the tips of fingers to the elbows. (3 times each)
Beginning first with the right hand, then the left.
8. Wiping at least one fourth of the head. That is, by wetting the hands and passing them over the head, beginning from the front, proceeding to the back. (3 times)
9. Rubbing the ears with wet hands (3 times)
Ears should be wiped with the wet hands by inserting wet index fingers in the cavity of the ears, and wipe their backs with the thumbs.
10. Washing both the feet up to and including the ankles (3 times each)
Beginning first with the right foot, then the left.
11. Reciting the following Dua (prayer) after performing ablution.
Ash-athu an-laa ilaaha illallaahu wahthahu laa shareeka lahu wa ash-athu anna muhammadan abdahu wa rasooluhu (3 times) - Allahummaj-alnee minat-tawwaabeena wa’ajalnee minal muta tah’hireen
Trans: I testify that there is no god to worship except Allah. He is unique and has no partner and I testify that Muhammad is Allah's servant and messenger. O Allah, make me among those who seek forgiveness and amongst those who stay clean.
12. Offering 2 Rakhat prayer called “Salat Tahiyyat al Wudu”. This prayer method should be same as other normal prayers except the intention.
(Pls note: These prayers are not compulsory. But if you perform you will get various merits & blessings)
3.4 WHAT ARE THE ACTS WILL INVALIDATE WUDU?
1. Defecation, passing gas or urination
2. All the acts which will make a person to take obligatory bath will invalidate wudu also such as emission of semen and sexual intercourse.
3. Sleep while reclining
4. Vomiting
5. Loss of senses
6. Fainting
7. Touching the private parts with the bare hands
8. Touching a person of opposite sex who is a non-mahram (i.e, a person who can be married according to Islamic law) without the screen will invalidate Wudu.
3.5 THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LADIES WHEN PERFORMING WUDU
1. Nail police, Lipstick or other similar types of cosmetics should be removed before performing Wudu in order to allow the water to reach the skin underneath it.
Because, if the water does not touch the necessary parts, then Wudu will not be accepted. If Wudu is not accepted then our Salah (Prayers) will not be accepted.
