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The meaning of ablution: |
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Ablution, or
purification, is a prerequisite for the performance of valid prayers. It may be
defined as cleansing from material spiritual pollution.
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The Conditions of the Validity of
Ablution: |
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1) Belief ( i.e. being
a believer ).
2) Being in control of one's faculties,
3) Having attained majority.
4) Ability to use a purifying agent.
5) Availability of a purifying agent.
6) Covering by ablution of all the designated parts.
7) The absence of any pollution which renders it null and avoid, e.g. the absence
of menstruation or a post-natal bleeding in women.
8) Intention.
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Ablution may be categorized in Three ways:
a) Minor
Ablution ( wudu' ).
b) Major Ablution (ghusl).
c) Dry Ablution (tayammum).
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a) Minor Ablution:
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The four parts of minor ablution are: |
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1) Washing the face. |
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2) Washing the hands up to the elbows. |
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3) Rubbing of the head. |
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4) Washing the feet up to the ankles.
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b) Major Ablution: |
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Major ablution is secured by washing
the whole body. It is obligatory after sexual intercourse and after the menstrual
period in women.
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c) Dry Ablution ( Tayammum ): |
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Dry ablution consists of wiping the
face and the hands up to the elbows on dry clean earth or sand. The worshipper has
to beat the earth with his two hands twice, once for wipping the face, and the second time for the hands up to the elbows.
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The conditions for a valid dry ablution
are: |
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1) Rubbing.
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2) The availability of
clean earth, and the absence of water.
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3) Covering of all the
designated parts. Clean earth may include clean dust, or sand, or rock, for one
of the Traditions of the Prophet affirms that: " All the earth
has been given me as a place for prayers (Prostration) and as a purifier ".
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Invalidity of Ablution: |
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Ablution is no longer valid when any
uncleanness is emitted from either of the two openings. An uncleanness may include
blood, or bloody saliva, vomiting or a major uncleanness (sexual intercourse).
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Ablution, whether minor, major or dry,
has been enjoined on believers in the sixth verse of the fifth Chapter of the Qur'an.
" 0 ye who believe,
when ye rise up for prayers. wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and
lightly rub your heads and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean,
purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from
the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find no water, then go to
clean high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah could
not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon
you, that ye may give thanks ".
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Thus ablution, being a divine injunction
makes the cleansing process five times a day a necessary stage of purification before
prayers. In the words of one of the traditions of the Prophet :" The key to prayers is purification ".
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