Islam 312: How To Perform Ablution (For Men and Women)

1. First and foremost, you must have the intention of performing wudhu (ablution) and praying to Allah. This doesn't mean you should get up and say to yourself, "I am going to perform ablution now!". No, you just have to make the intention to perform wudhu within yourself

2. You have to say bismillah before you start the ablution. Bismillah means "in the name of God", and it is culled from "bismillah Ir-Rahman Ir-Rahim". We'll now look at a more adept meaning of the word:

Bismillah:

The phrase "In the name of" is an idiom having the connotation of: with the blessings of, under the governance of, as an instrument of, in devotion to, in adoration of, on behalf of, with the support of, or for the glory of. In each of these cases, the idiom In the name of indicates that one is submitting to, honoring or glorifying that which is referred to.

Ir-Rahman Ir-Rahim:

Both rahman and rahim are derived from the Semitic root r-h-m which indicates something of the utmost tenderness which provides protection and nourishment, and that from which all of creation is brought into being. And indeed, the root rhm has meanings of womb, kinship, relationship, loving-kindness, mercy, compassion, and nourishing-tenderness.

Thus, both rahman and rahim point toward that which emerges from the source of all creation, while also conveying a sense of tenderness, loving-kindness, protection and nourishment.

In other words, Bismillah Ir-Rahman Ir-Rahim means we are thanking God for everything we do. We are recognising that everything we do is because he gives us the strength to do it, and Bismillah Ir-Rahman Ir-Rahim is a way of thanking him for giving us such privileges.

3. After saying bismillah, you will then wash your palm to the wrist three times. Wash your right palm first, then your left palm; ensure that you wash between your fingers too.

4. After you wash your hands, make a cup with your palm and take water into it. Then you use some of the water to wash your mouth, and the remaining one will be used to wash your nose. You will do this thrice too. 

Some people usually rinse their mouth first, then rinse their noses (three times each), but the method above is the most authentic. (there is nothing wrong with rinsing the mouth first then the nose, but the above method is the way the prophet (pbuh) performed his ablution [Muslim])

6. After washing your your hands, you then wash your face thrice with your two hands. Men with beards should also take a handful of water and wash their beards with it, then they should run their fingers through their beards (the prophet (pbuh) did so).

7. Wash the hand from the fingers to the elbow starting with the right arm three times. You should also wash the elbow with it. Then, you wash your left arm three times too as you did the right arm.

8. Wash the head: Wet your hands with water, then run your fingers through your hair starting from the hairline down to the nape of your neck, then bring your fingers back to the hairline (women are to swab their hair with water, whether it is braided or not, but it is not necessary for them to wet the entire length of the hair). After you wet your hair, you then use the tip of your finger to clean the folds of your ears (simultaneously (from the bottom to the top and back again)), then you clean the back of your ear with your thumb. (They are all done once only). After the ear is cleaned, clean the sides of your neck with the back of your fingers.

9. Wash your right leg from the tip of your toes up to (and including) your ankles. You should also wash the bottom of your foot and your heals, you should also rinse between your toes.

Note: You should "wash" your feet, and not "rinse" them

10. After you perform your ablution, you have to recite the Attashaud, it is the testimony of faith, and it goes like this: Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu. 

Some of you may wonder what the importance of ablution is, well... Prayers which are performed without ablution are unacceptable by God. So, even if you do fifty thousand ruku'us without your ablution, you will just be wasting your time. Ablution is also important because as you wash those parts of your body (your hands, your legs, your face (eyes, nose)), whatever sin you committed with those parts of your body are coming off with the water you used to wash them. So, when you are done with your ablution, you will be sin-free! Isn't this wonderful?! 

Note: The water you perform your ablution with must be pure and free from anything that can purify it. You should also wash off anything that will prevent water from reaching the skin (I.e., dough, oil) and the nails (I.e., artificial nails, nail polish). You should also keep quiet while performing wudhu, talking is not allowed.

It is also preferred that one sits or squats while performing ablution, and it is required that you sit in a clean place.

There are also blessings for performing ablution and reciting the attashaud:

Narrated from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one among you who does wudoo; and does it well, then says, 'Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu' (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger) but the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he will enter through whichever one he wants.” Narrated by Muslim, 234. 

Things That Nullify Wudhu:

Things that come out of the anus or penis/vagina such as urine, feaces or gas etc.

Falling sound asleep.

Intoxication, insanity or fainting (unconsciousness).

Touching the uncovered private parts.

Vomiting.

Discharge of blood, pus or anything from the body.

Touching a woman in a way that leads to semen being emitted. A man can still touch, kiss and hug his wife and his wudhu will still be valid. It will only break if these actions lead to the emission of semen.

Laughing while praying.

In the next article, I'll tell you about at-tayyamum, it is the ablution you perform when there is no water around. It is performed using soil... We'll talk about it in the next article! break if these actions lead to the emission of semen.