Preparing to Pray
» Ablution (Wudu) » Bath (Ghusl) » Tayammum » Facing Towards Mecca (Qibla)
Ablution (Wudu)
The first step of performing prayer is the ablution (Wudu). This is an act of spiritual and physical cleansing, and MUST be performed before commencing prayer as no prayer can be accepted without it.
Wudu is quite a simple procedure, and is performed as detailed in the table below. This table is also available as a printable PDF document (right-click and select 'Save File As...'). This could be placed wherever you usually take Wudu as a reminder.
NOTE: It could get wet depending on it's location, so it may be a good idea to laminate it or place it in a plastic pocket first!
| 1 | Begin by saying 'Bismillah Hirrah-man Nirraheem' (In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful) |
| 2 | Wash the hands up to the wrists three times. |
| 3 | Rinse the mouth out three times. |
| 4 | Carefully sniff water into the nose three times, blowing it out each time using the left hand. |
| 5 | Wash the face from the forehead to the chin, and from ear to ear, three times. |
| 6 | Starting from the right side, wash the arm up to the elbow three times, then repeat for the left arm. |
| 7 | Using wet hands, rub them over the top of the head starting at the forehead, wiping backwards. |
| 8 | Using wet fingers, wipe the inside and outside of the ears. |
| 9 | Wash the feet up to the ankles, starting with the right foot. |
| 10 | End by saying 'Ashadu an la illah ha ill'Allahu wahda hula sharika lah, Wa ashadu ana Muhammadan 'ab duhu wa rasul' (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone without partners, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger) |
Some Points to Remember about Wudu
- Wudu can be kept as long as necessary for performing one or more prayers. However, it is better to renew it often.
- Wudu is invalidated by answering the call of nature, breaking wind, experiencing any discharge from the body (i.e. semen, blood, pus etc.), sexual intercourse, falling asleep, or becoming intoxicated. NOTE: if there is any sexual discharge from the body or your period has finished (this applies to sisters only, obviously...), one MUST take a bath before praying (ghusl); wudu is insufficient in these circumstances.
- If you have any doubts as to whether your wudu is still valid (for example, you have taken wudu but have since become a little sweaty) then there is no need to retake your wudu, especially if it means you would miss your prayer if you did.
- As well as for praying, it is also good practice to take wudu before going to bed or reading the Qur'an.
- In addition to the sayings that I have quoted on the Wudu Guide, there are number of supplications (du'a) that can be said during each step. These can be learnt from a list of du'a (PDF: right-click and select 'Save As...') that I have typed if and when you feel ready to do so. If you don't know the exact wording, any words praising Allah in any language is sufficient.
- It is not necessary to remove socks or stockings for every wudu, but you should wash your feet at least once a day if only for hygiene purposes.
- If you have a bandaged wound on any parts to be washed, it is permissible to simply wipe the bandage with a wet hand.
Bath (Ghusl)
The whole body, including the nostrils, mouth and head, must be washed with a complete bath before commencing prayer in the following cases:
- Immediately after taking your shahada (i.e. after you have just converted to Islam)
- After sexual intercourse
- After any seminal discharge
- At the end of a menstrual period
- At the end of confinement period for nursing women (this is a maximum of forty days)
It is also highly recommended to perform ghusl before attending Friday and Eid prayers.
At the start of the bath, the intention must be made in your heart (not aloud) that this is for the purpose of purity and worship, just as with wudu.
According to the practice of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, the correct manner of performing ghusl is:
- Wash both hands three times.
- Wash the private parts.
- Make a complete ablution (like the one made for prayer - the Prophet used to delay washing his feet until the end of his ghusl if he was using a tub).
- Rub water through one's hair three times, letting the water reach down to the roots of the hair (if your hair is plaited, there is no need to undo the plait as long as the water can reach the roots of the hair).
- Pour water over the entire body, beginning with the right side, then the left, washing under the armpits, inside the ears, inside the navel, inside the toes and whatever part of the body can be easily rubbed.
Tayammum
This is a form of purification than can be performed instead of wudu or ghusl when there is no water available, if the water that is available is dirty and likely to cause illness, or if performing wudu or ghusl would cause you to miss a funeral (Janazah) or Eid prayer (these prayers cannot be substituted or prayed later).
Tayammum is performed simply by striking one's hands lightly over clean earth, sand or stone then passing the palm of each hand on the back of the other, blowing off any dust then passing the hands over the face, then striking the hands again and wiping both arms up to the elbow starting with the right arm.
Facing Towards Mecca (Qiblah)
As you probably already know, every Muslim must face towards the Ka'ba in Mecca whilst praying. But how do you find Qiblah in your home? There are three methods:
- Using a Bilal. This is basically a compass with numbered points marked around its circumference. The bilal should be supplied with a booklet containing a list of major cities around the world, each with a number corresponding to a point on the bilal. To find the Qiblah, simply line up the needle of the compass with the number quoted for your nearest city.
- Using a standard compass. In addition to prayer times for your location, the Islamicity Prayer Timetable Calculator also gives a compass bearing for your Qiblah.
- Deduction. This method is nowhere near as accurate, and you will need to have a good knowledge of map-reading and a good sense of direction. Using a local map, you will need to determine the direction of Qiblah from the nearest mosque (or somewhere you have prayed), draw a straight line in this direction, then draw a parallel line through your house. Simple! Of course, this will only work if your point of reference is in the same town as your house. If the Qiblah just happens to run parallel to the road on which the mosque or your house is situated, it makes your job a whole lot easier, especially if you live in a modern city with a straight grid plan.
If you are unable to determine an accurate direction for Qiblah, then just use your best judgement until you can.
Return to Top - © Amir Brooks - 2006 / 1427
- (order to perform wudu before prayer) - The Holy Qur'an, 5:6 -
O you who believe, when you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows and lightly rub your heads and your feet up to the ankles.
(return to 'wudu' reference) - (invalidation of wudu) - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 4, Hadith Number 137 - Narrated By Abu Huraira : Allah's Apostle said,
The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs (repeats) the ablution
. (return to 'nullification of wudu' reference) - (order to face Mecca during prayer) - The Holy Qur'an, 2:144 -
Direct your face to the Masjid al-Haram. Wherever you may be, turn your faces to it.
(return to 'qiblah' reference)
