The Wudu

1. When we want to perform a Salat, whether Wajib or Mustahab, we must make a Wudu' for that Salat. Before doing so, we must remove whatever there is 'on the parts of the body which are to be used in the Wudu'. So that, the water of the Wudu' would reach the skin of that part. Therefore, anything like sticking materials, paints, cosmetics, etc. should be removed.

2. Intention is a must for the Wudu', as otherwise it would be incorrect.

The obvious Qur'an, in the verse No.6 of Surat ul-Ma'idah, tells us how to perform it.

"O you who believe! when you rise up for the $alat wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows,. and wipe your heads and your feet up to the ankles."

Allah, the Glorified, commanded us to make Wudu' for the Salat so as to stand in His presence, purified, invoking upon Him and asking His forgiveness.

The Wudu' consists of six consecutive steps:

1. Washing the face vertically from the hairline down to the chin,and in breadth from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger.

2. Washing the right arm from, the elbow till the tip of the fingers.

------( The Faqihs of the four sects have unanimously given the option to wash the arms starting from the elbows or from the fingers, but they differ in respect of the tradition. Some say it should be started from the fingers, while the Shafi'is say that it differs, if one ladles water with one's hand, or pours water on one's hand. They say that if one has ladled water by one's hand, one is to start from the front of the limbs. But if one has poured water down, as from a tap or a pitcher, or somebody else has had to help one to make the Wudu',one would start from the elbows in washing the arms,and from the ankles in respect of the feet. (Look up: Abdur-Rahman al-Juzayri's "AI-Fiqh Ala alMadhahib al-Arba'ah", vol.1, p. 56, quoted from "AI-,Haqa'iq Fil Jawami' wal Fawariq".).

The Imami Shi'ah say that it is Wajib to start from the elbow, while the other sects say it is allowed to do so.. As-Suyuti, in his interpretation of the Qur'an, "Ad-Durul-Manthur", vol. 2, commenting on Surat ul-Ma'idah, verse No. 6, concerning the Wudu', says: 'Ad-Dar Qufni and al-Bayhaqi, in their 'Sunan', quoting Jabir ibn 'Abdullah, said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) used to pour water on his elbows for performing Wudu'.

2. The Muslims unanimously say that it is Wajib to mash the head in the Wudu', as is stated in the Qur'an explicitly, but they differ in respect of the place of the mash and its width. The Wlikis and the HanbarS say that the whole of the head is Wajib to mash The Shafi'is say that it is necessary to mash, the head, though a little part of it. The Hanafis say that the supposed part is a quarter of the head. The Imami Shi'ah say that the Wajib is only a part of the front of the head.

It is stated in Muslim's "Sahih" and elsewhere, in respect of the Hadth narrated by Mughirah that, "The Prophet (S,a.w.) made Wudu' and performed the mash on his forelock or (forepart of his head) while he still had his turban on." Abu Dawud, (may Allah have mercy upon him) quotes Anas's narrative that, "The Prophet (s.a.w.) inserted his hand under his turban and performed the mash on the forepart of his head, without moving the turban". No need to say that Allah's saying: " ....and mash your heads" does not mean that the whole head should be mashed. There are more similar verbs, such as: "I hit Zayd's head," or "I beat him on the head", or "I beat Zayd, on his hand". In all these linguistic meanings the hitting or the beating was affected on a part of the said organs. The same is true in respect of the said verse, too (Look up) `Ar-Rawdat un-Nadiyyah fi Sharh id-Durar Il-Bahiyyah" by Abut- Tayyib Qanuji al-Bukhari, vol.1, p.38).

As to wiping the ears, the Hanbalis say that they are also a part of the head, while the other sects do not say that their wiping is Wajib.

The four sects: "Both feet, including the insteps, must be washed once. The Imamis say they must be mashed with the moisture of the Wudu', starting from the tips of the toes up to the insteps, which are the "arch" of the feet. The difference concerning performing mash or washing the feet stems from misinterpreting verse No. 6 of Suratul Ma'idah: "O you who believe! when you rise up for the Salat wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and your feet up to the ankles." The clause "your feet" was read as in the genetive case, as well as in the accusative case. So, those who say that the feet must be rubbed, regard the clause to be in the genitive case, while those who say that they must be washed, regard the clause to be in the accusative case. AI-Fakhr ur-Razi's opinion supports performing the Mash while Muhammad ibn Jarir at- Tabari, al-Hasan al-Basri, al-Juba'i, ath-Thawri and al- Uwza`i, who are of the great Sunni `Ulama, leave it to one's option to choose either to wash or to mash. Others say that both are to be performed. Abu 0awud narrated that ibn Abbas had said:

"Do you want me to show you how the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) used to perform Wudu'?" Then he related the narrative, ending it by saying: "Then he rubbed his feet with his hand.".

3. The mouth-rinsing and sniffing are Wajibs, in the opinion of the Hanbalis)-------

3. Washing the left arm from the elbow till the tip of the fingers.

4. Mash the top of the head down' to the hairline with the wet fingers of our right hand.

5. Rubbing the back of our right foot with our wet right hand, from the tips of our toes up to the ankle.

6. Mash the back of the left foot with our wet left hand, from the tips of our toes up to the ankle.