Questions and Answers on Purification
Purification is a great chapter of the religion. It is a condition for the validity of prayer, and through it a Muslim draws near to Allah with outward and inward cleanliness.
Whoever learns wudu, ghusl, and tayammum according to the Sunnah, avoids obsessive doubts, and perfects his purification will find it a help toward prayer, humility, and obedience to Allah.
What does purification mean?
Purification means removing ritual impurity and removing physical impurity. This includes wudu, ghusl, tayammum when one is unable to use water, and removing impurity from the body, clothing, and place of prayer.
Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent and loves those who purify themselves. [Al-Baqarah: 222]
Why is purification important?
Because prayer is not valid without purification from ritual impurity when one is able to purify himself.
“Allah does not accept the prayer of any one of you when he has broken his wudu until he performs wudu.” Agreed upon.
“Purification is half of faith.” Narrated by Muslim.
What is the evidence for wudu?
O you who believe, when you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. If you are ill, traveling, have relieved yourselves, or have had contact with women and cannot find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to place hardship upon you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you so that you may be grateful. [Al-Ma’idah: 6]
What are the obligatory acts of wudu?
The obligatory acts of wudu indicated by the verse in Al-Ma’idah are:
- Washing the face.
- Washing the hands and arms up to the elbows.
- Wiping the head.
- Washing the feet up to the ankles.
- Following the order mentioned in the verse according to the majority of scholars.
- Continuity between the limbs according to a number of scholars.
What are the sunnahs of wudu?
Among the sunnahs of wudu are:
- Saying the name of Allah at the beginning, according to those who hold it recommended or obligatory.
- Washing the hands at the beginning.
- Rinsing the mouth and nose.
- Washing between the fingers.
- Beginning with the right side.
- Washing the limbs three times, while wiping the head once.
- Saying the remembrance after wudu.
“There is no one among you who performs wudu and does it completely, then says: I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the servant and Messenger of Allah, except that the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him and he may enter through whichever he wishes.” Narrated by Muslim.
What nullifies wudu?
Among the well-known nullifiers of wudu are:
- Anything that exits from the two private passages, such as urine, stool, or wind.
- Loss of consciousness through deep sleep, fainting, intoxication, or the like.
- Eating camel meat.
- Touching the private part without a barrier according to a number of scholars.
If a person doubts whether his wudu was nullified, the original ruling is that he remains upon purification until he is certain that it ended.
“He should not leave until he hears a sound or finds a smell.” Agreed upon.
When is ghusl required?
Ghusl is required in several cases, including:
- Janabah.
- The end of menstruation.
- The end of postpartum bleeding.
- Death, so the Muslim is washed, except the martyr in battle according to its details.
If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. [Al-Ma’idah: 6]
How is ghusl performed correctly?
The minimum valid ghusl is to wash the entire body with water while having the intention. The more complete form is to wash the hands, wash the private area and anything affected by impurity, perform wudu, pour water over the head, and then wash the rest of the body, as is established from the description of the Prophet’s ghusl صلى الله عليه وسلم.
When is tayammum legislated?
Tayammum is legislated when water is unavailable, when a person is unable to use water due to sickness or harm, or when he is unable to reach water.
If you cannot find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it. [Al-Ma’idah: 6]
How is tayammum performed?
A Muslim strikes his hands on clean earth, then wipes his face and hands. Tayammum is a legislated purification that Allah made as ease for His servants.
Is it permissible to wipe over leather socks or regular socks?
Yes. It is permissible to wipe over leather socks, and likewise over socks if they were worn while in a state of purification and they cover the area that must be washed. This is from the ease Allah has granted.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed wudu. Al-Mughirah said: “I reached to remove his leather socks, but he said: Leave them, for I put them on while they were pure, so he wiped over them.” Agreed upon.
How long may one wipe over leather socks or socks?
The period for a resident is one day and night, and for a traveler three days and nights. According to many scholars, the period begins from the first wiping after breaking wudu.
“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم set three days and nights for the traveler, and one day and night for the resident.” Narrated by Muslim.
Does touching a woman nullify wudu?
This is a well-known matter of scholarly difference. The stronger view is that merely touching a woman does not nullify wudu unless something exits, or unless the touch is with desire according to those scholars who held that view.
Does blood nullify wudu?
Blood exiting from other than the two private passages does not nullify wudu according to a group of scholars, unless it is a large amount according to those who hold that view. It is safer for one who bleeds heavily to perform wudu to avoid the difference of opinion, but he should not open the door to whispers and obsessive doubts.
How is impurity removed?
Impurity is removed by washing its place until its trace is gone. A specific number of washes is not required except where a text has specified it, such as the impurity of a dog.
“The purification of the vessel of one of you, when a dog licks it, is to wash it seven times, the first of them with soil.” Narrated by Muslim.
Does doubt about passing wind nullify wudu?
Wudu is not nullified by mere doubt. A Muslim remains upon purification until he is certain that he has broken it.
“He should not leave until he hears a sound or finds a smell.” Agreed upon.
Are obsessive doubts in purification part of the religion?
No. Obsessive doubts are not part of the religion. What is legislated is to follow the Sunnah without excessiveness or neglect. Whoever performed wudu with certainty should not pay attention to repeated doubts.