“O you who believe, when you rise to observe the Salat, you shall wash your faces and your arms to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles.” 5:6

Before we perform Salah we must first prepare ourselves. This preparation includes making sure that we are clean from any physical impurities and performing Wudu.

Wudu (ablution) is required for performing Salah. We cannot offer our Salah without first making Wudu. Here are the steps to take:

• First, make the Niyyah (intention) in your heart that this act of Wudu is for the purpose of preparing for Salah, and say: “Bismillah” (in the name of Allah).
• Wash both hands up to the wrists (starting with the right hand) three times, making sure that water has reached between the fingers.
• Take water with your right hand, put it into your mouth and rinse thoroughly three times.
• Take water with your right hand, splash it into your nose and blow it out three times. (Use the left hand if necessary to help blow it out).
• Wash your whole face three times repeatedly. (The whole face includes: the right ear to the left ear, and the forehead to the bottom of the chin).
• Wash the right arm thoroughly from wrist to elbow three times, and make sure that no part of the arm has been left unwashed. Repeat with the left arm.
• Move the palms of the wet hands lightly over the head, starting from the top of the forehead to the back of the head, and passing both hands over the back of the head to the neck, and then bringing them back to the forehead.
• Move the palms of the wet hands lightly over the head, starting from the top of the forehead to the back of the head, and passing both hands over the back of the head to the neck, and then bringing them back to the forehead.
• Finally, wash both feet to the ankles three times, starting with the right foot. Make sure that water has reached between the toes and covered the rest of the foot.
• At the end of the above steps recite: “Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu, wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.” This means: “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger.”

It should be noted that natural discharges: urine, stool, gas, etc vitiate ablution as well as falling asleep and unconsciousness of any kind.

Check your water of ablution

The water that flows or has a source such as a stream, a river, a well, or rain is pure so long as its essential qualities, that is its colour, smell and taste do not change. The water of ocean is pure for ablution. But if the impurity overcomes the water and it is manifest in the hue of the water, or its stench, or in its taste, then it is impure for ablution. A pool of water that is not deep or flowing can be easily rendered impure if any impurity alters its colour, taste or smell, then the water cannot be used for ablution.

The water that is not potable but can be used for ablution is sea water. The water that is potable and can be used for the ablution and bathing is rain water. Water that is potable but has fragrance or taste is unfit for ablution. If the change in water is due to weeds growing in it or remaining stagnant for a long period, or any other means that is not a cause of impurity, and it thereby becomes greenish or changes in colour, then the water nevertheless is fit for ritual purification. Indeed water becomes impure only by direct impurity polluting it.

Allah says, “Water by itself is pure.” If impurity enters it the rule is based upon predominance. If on the whole impurity predominates, the water is ritually impure; if, in the course of time, the impurity decreases and purity prevails, the water becomes pure.