1. Fundamentals of Purity and Prayer
Lecture 3
February 9, 2014

2. Introduction to Purification
“Allah loves the repenters and the purified.” (Qur’an 2:222)
Taharah (purification) is a basic condition for worship
Taharah: the purification of objects from either physical or ritual impurity
Water is primary means of purification
Difference between “clean” and “pure”

3. Impurity Impurity can be divided into 2 types:
Physical impurity (najasah)
Visible substances that are established as impure by the shari’ah
Ritual impurity (hadath)
A non-visible state that results from particular acts that the shari’ah establishes as causing the body to become impure

4. Categories of Water Three categories:
Tahur – water which is both pure and purifying
Can remove both physical and ritual impurity
Tahir – water which is pure, but not purifying
Cannot remove physical nor ritual impurity, but can be used to clean something
Najas – water which is impure and therefore cannot be used for any type of purification

5. Tahur Water
All natural sources of water which maintain their original color, taste and smell are both pure and purifying (tahur)
Rainwater
Well water
Spring water
River water (includes lakes and ponds)
Sea Water
Water from melted ice/snow or hail
Tap water

6. Mixing Water and Pure Substances
If a pure substance is mixed with water
The water remains pure
Remains purifying only if the substance does not overtake and change the essential characteristics of water
If substance does overtake and change essential characteristics of water, the mixture may not be purifying
Water is considered “overtaken” when 2 out of its 3 essential characteristics change: color, taste, or smell

7. Mixing Water and Pure Substances
Water mixed with a substance to increase its ability to cleanse (i.e. detergent) does not restrict it from physically purifying
Even if all 3 characteristics of water are altered
Is not considered ritually purifying (i.e. for wudu, ghusl)
Water which has been used for wudu or ghusl (musta’mal) is no longer tahur, but tahir
Viscosity/Fluidity

8. Mixing Water and Impure Substances
If an impure substance is mixed with water
Ruling depends on the volume of water in which it is mixed
A single drop of impurity makes a limited (qalil) amount of water impure
Regardless if any essential characteristics of water are altered
An abundant (kathir) amount of water is considered impure when at least 1 essential characteristic of water is changed
Abundant is considered 10 cubits x 10 cubits (about 15 ft. x 15 ft.) and deep enough that removal of a handful does not reveal its floor
I.e. pond, swimming pool
Flowing water is considered abundant

9. Mixing Water and Impure Substances
If impurity falls into abundant water and no characteristics change, water remains pure
If no characteristics change but impurity can be seen, only affected area considered impure

10. Obligatory Acts of Wudu

11. Obligation of Wudu in Qur’an
“O you who believe, when you stand for prayer, wash your faces, (wash) you arms to the elbows, wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet to the ankles.” (Qur’an 5:6)

12. 4 Fard of Wudu Washing the face (once)
Washing both arms, up to and including the elbows (once)
Wiping one-fourth of the head (once)
Washing both feet, up to and including the ankles (once)
If any of the fard acts are left out, the wudu is invalid

13. Washing vs Wiping
Washing means to wet a body part such that no area remains dry and at least 3 drops of water fall from it
Wiping means to pass a wet hand over the area

14. Sunnah of Wudu Intention for wudu Beginning with name of Allah
Beginning with right whenever possible
Washing both hands up to wrists thrice
Rubbing limbs when washing
Rinsing mouth to throat thrice
Miswak
Taking water into nostrils to soft bone thrice
Washing each part thrice

15. Sunnah of Wudu Masah (wipe) entire head once
Including ears and back of neck
Khilal (passing wet fingers through):
Fingers when washing hands
Beard when washing face
Toes when washing feet
Observing the order mentioned in the Qur’an
Washing each limb in succession
Such that previous limb does not dry

16. Mustahabb of Wudu Perform wudu before start of prayer time
Face the Qiblah
Sit in an elevated place
Perform dhikr/du’a during wudu
Mentioning name of Allah when washing each limb
Sunnah du’as
Avoid splashes of used water
Use right hand to take water into mouth and nose
And left hand to clean nose
Drink remaining water of wudu
Beginning from tips of fingers and toes when washing arms/feet
Beginning from front of head when wiping

17. Mustahabb of Wudu
Recite two declarations of faith after completing wudu
Recite the du’a after wudu
“Oh Allah make me of those who repent and of those maintain purity.” (Tirmidhi)

18. Questions?