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· Ablution is a necessary condition for a valid prayer because there is great blessings in it.

· The obligatory elements of ablution are to have a sincere intention, to wash one’s face, to wash the two arms up to, and including, the elbows, to wipe one’s head, to wash one’s feet up to, and including, the ankles, and to pay attention to the order of the elements of ablution (for Hanbali and Shafi`i Schools) and incessancy (for Hanbali and Maliki Schools).^[4]

· The Sunnah acts when performing ablution are:

a) To mention Allah's Name.

b) To wash the two hands.

c) To rinse the mouth (obligatory for Hanbali and Shafi`i Schools) and brush one’s teeth using a tooth-stick.

d) To sniff (obligatory for Hanbali and Shafi`i Schools) and inhalate water, followed by blowing it out.

e) To wipe the ears inside and outside.

f) To start from the right-hand side.

g) To wash three times.

h) To let the water reach between the fingers and toes.

i) To start wiping the head from the forehead.

j) To wash more than what is obligatory of the face, hands, and feet.

k) to soak the hair of the beard with water.

l) to conclude ablution by saying a certain invocation.^[5]

· It is offensive to waste water, exceed three times, leave out one of the acts of the Sunnah, and carry out the ablution in an impure place.^[6]

· Things that nullify one's ablution are anything that is emitted from the genitals (feces, urine or wind), deep sleep in a lying position, absence of mind because of fainting , diabetic coma, or temporary insanity, and touching (of the skin) between members of the opposite sex, lustfully or not (depending on the different Schools of Jurisprudence).

· It is praiseworthy to renew one’s ablution before every prayer in cases of incontinence of urine and constant menstruation.^[7]

Evidence from Qur'an and Sunnah

Performing ablution for prayer:

Allah says:

]يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فاغْسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُواْ بِرُؤُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَين[
(المائدة: 6)ِ

This means: “O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salah (the prayer), 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.” (5, Al-Ma’idah: 6)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The key of prayer is purification.”
(Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah does not accept prayer without purification.”
(Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah does not accept prayer of anyone of you if he does Hadath (passes wind, urine, or feces) till he performs the ablution (anew).”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The merits of performing ablution:

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

“Should not I lead you to something by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates (your) ranks? They said: Yes, Allah's Messenger (with great pleasure). He said: Performing proper ablution despite unfavorable conditions, frequently going to the mosque, and waiting for the next prayer after performing the due one. That is the (real) dedication (to the acts of devotion).” (Reported by Muslim)

Obligatory integrals of ablution:

Proofs from the Holy Qur’an: (see Performing ablution for prayer)

Arrangement: It is referred to in the above-mentioned verse.

The Sunnahs of performing ablution:

Washing the two hands:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“When anyone amongst you wakes up from sleep, he must not put his hand in the utensil till he has washed it (his hand) three times, for he does not know where his hand was during the night.” (Reported by Muslim)

Siwak:

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“Had not I find it hard for my people, I would have commanded them to use the Siwak [tooth-stick] before every prayer.”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Rinsing the mouth:

`Abdu Khayr narrated:

“Ali came upon us and he had already offered prayer. He asked for water. We asked: What will you do with water when you have already offered prayer? - Perhaps to teach us. A utensil containing water and a wash-basin were brought (to him). He poured water from the utensil on his right hand and washed both his hands three times, rinsed the mouth, snuffed up water and cleansed the nose three times. He then rinsed the mouth and snuffed up water with the same hand by which he took water.”
(Reported by Abu Dawud)

Snuffing up the nose:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Snuff up water freely unless you are fasting.”
(Reported by An-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhi)

Starting with the right organ:

`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) loved to start from the right-hand side for performing ablution, for combing (the hair) and wearing the shoes.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:

“The Prophet used to like to start from the right side on wearing shoes, combing his hair, and cleaning or washing himself and on doing anything else.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Penetrating the beard with water:

Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed ablution, he took a handful of water, and, putting it under his chin, made it go through his beard, saying: Thus did my Lord command me.”
(Reported by Abu Dawud)

Letting water reach between fingers:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“If you perform ablution, cleanse the base of the fingers of your hands and feet.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Washing more than what is obligatory of face, hand, and leg; by washing above and down them:

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“My people will be summoned on the Day of Resurrection with bright faces and white hands and feet due to the traces of ablution. If anyone can extend his brightness (by letting water as far as he can on the parts of ablution), let him do so.”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Offensive acts of performing ablution:

To extravagantly use water:

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) performed ablution with one Mudd (a measure of two thirds of a liter, approx.). It may be less or more.) and took bath with a Sa' (a measure equivalent to four Mudds; three liters, approx.) up to five Mudds.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Exceeding three times:

`Abdullah Ibn `Amr Ibn Al-`As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him: Messenger of Allah, how is the ablution (to be performed)? He (the Prophet) then called for water in a vessel and washed his hands up to the wrists three times, then washed his face three times, and washed his forearms three times. He then wiped his head and inserted both his index fingers in his ear; he wiped the back of his ears with his thumbs and the front of his ears with the index fingers. He then washed his feet three times. Then he said: This is how ablution should be performed. If anyone does more or less than this, he has done wrong and transgressed, or (said) transgressed and done wrong.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)

Nullifiers of ablution:

Anything that comes out of genitals:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah does not accept prayer of anyone of you if he does Hadath (passes wind, urine, or feces) till he performs the ablution (anew).”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

(see Performing ablution for prayer)

Deep sleep:

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“The eyes are the leather strap of the anus (i.e., one can avoid anything that nullifies his ablution as long as he is awake), so one who sleeps should perform ablution.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)

Touching one’s sexual organ:

The Prophet (pace be upon him) said:

“He who touches his penis should not pray until he performs ablution.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

The ablution of a woman in a state of incessant menstruation:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Fatimah Bint Abi Hubaysh:

“Then take a bath and then perform ablution for every prayer and pray.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Incontinence of urine:

The same ruling of the state of incessant menstruation is applied here.