Wudu and Ghusl :: the koran

What is Islam? > Wudu and Ghusl

. What is wudu? what is ghusl?

Wudu and Ghusl both are arabic terms that refers to the Islamic rituals of washing one's self to obtain purification.

Ghusl involves washing the full body, from head till the bottom of feet.
Wudu is a partial wash and consists of washing the hands,the face, the fore-arms,the feet and wiping over the head.

Ghusl is required after any kind of sexual activity, menstruation period or post-childbirth bleeding,or when a new convert recites the Shahadah for the first time.

Wudu is required when anything exits from the front and back passage of the private parts (urine, feces or gas), falling asleep and with loss of consciousness. and everything that invalidates ghusl invalidates wudu.

When ghusl is required,this means that wudu is required too,so ghusl and wudu can be performed at the same time.

When Ghusl is required, one will be in a state of impurity called in Koran janaabat,and it is quite clearly that salat will not be accepted.So both ghusl and wudu consist of a ritual washing in preparation for salat, and standing in presence of Allah.

Under such exceptional circumstances as illness, problem with water, or any other difficulties, wudu or ghusl can be replaced by another method of purifying called tayammum as explained in the Koran.

. Koran and hadith about wudu

-The prophete (SAW) said:

"The Prayer of none amongst you would be accepted in a state of impurity till he performs ablution." (Sahih Muslim)

The Koran says

-“For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean” (Koran 2:222)

-"O you who believe! When you intend to offer Salat , wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful." (Koran 5.6)

. How to perform wudu?

-Make intention.

-Say bismillah

-Wash your right hand up to the wrist and between the fingers. (3 times)

-Wash your left hand up to the wrist and between the fingers. (3 times)

-Take water with your right hand, put it into your mouth and rinse thoroughly and blow the water out. (3 times)

-Take water with your right hand, splash it into your nose and blow it out using your left hand. (3 times)

-Wash your face completely by spreading your both hands from your right ear to the left, and from the edge of the hair to the bottom of the chin. (3 times)

-Wash the right arm with your left hand from wrist to elbow. (3 times)

-Wash the left arm with your right hand from wrist to elbow. (3 times)

-Move the wet fingers and palms over your head from the top of forehead all the way to the back of the head, and then from back to front.

-Pass the wet tips of your index fingers into the grooves and holes of both ears, while also passing the wet thumbs behind the ears from the bottom upward.

-Wash your right foot to the ankles and between the toes. (3 times)

-Wash your left foot to the ankles and between the toes. (3 times)

-Say Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa shariikalah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhuu wa rasuuluh

. Koran and hadith about ghusl

The Koran says:

"O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum) . Truly, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving." (Koran 4:43)

-Narrated Maymouna(Prophet´s wife):: “I placed water for the bath of the Prophet. He washed his hands twice or thrice and then poured water on his left hand and washed his private parts. He rubbed his hands over the earth (and cleaned them), rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and blowing it out, washed his face and both forearms and then poured water over his body. Then he withdrew from that place and washed his feet”. (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

- Narrated Aisha (Prophet´s wife): “Whenever the Prophet took a bath after Janaba he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body”. (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

. How to perform ghusl?

-Make intention.

-Say bismillah

-Wash both hands to the wrists.

-Wash the private parts.

-Wash the part of the body where there may be some impurity.