Wudhu (Ritual Ablution) Quick Reference Sheet

O, you who believe! When you rise up to prayer, wash (Quran 5:6) What is Wudhu Needed For? One must have wudhu in order to: a) Touch the Quran & b) Perform prayers (Salat) How to Perform Wudhu1 1. Make the intention to do wudhu (in your heart), and say it to yourself (I intend) - Maintain the intention throughout, but at least through washing the face 2. Seek refuge with God, and begin with His name - Aoodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaan arRajeem, Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem2 3. Wash both hands,3 3 times 4. Brush the teeth (with a toothstick, toothbrush, or finger) 5. Rinse the mouth and nose, using the same handful of water, 3 times 6. Wash the face (hairline to chin, ear to ear, including hair), 3 times 7. Wash both arms (up to & including elbows), beginning with the right, 3 times 8. Wipe the head with wet hands, front to back (returning if one has short hair), 3 times 9. Wipe the ears, both inner and outer,4 3 times 10. Wash both feet (up to & including anklebones), beginning with the right, 3 times 11. To finish with the testimony of faith - Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah, wahdahu, laa shareeka lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu5 12. To do all of the above in the correct order 13. If possible, to do all of the above while facing the direction of prayer (qibla) What Breaks My Wudhu? 1) Anything exiting the private parts; 2) Sleep; 3) Touching a person of the opposite gender (except children and direct relatives); 4) Touching the private parts (with the palms or inner fingers) Do I Have to Do a New Wudhu for Each Prayer? So long as you havent broken your wudhu, you do NOT need to redo it! However, doing wudhu again (even if you have it) is a good action which will merit reward. What if I Dont Remember Whether I have Wudhu or Not?

Bolded words indicate requirements: if one misses them, the wudhu must be repeated. Non-bolded words indicate recommended actions: if one does them, one gets extra reward for following the Prophet (pbuh). 2 I seek refuge with Allah from the Accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 3 In order for the washing to be valid, it must reach the skin. Therefore, all impediments (cloth, dirt, nail polish, etc.) must be removed prior to wudhu. 4 Its recommended to use the forefinger for the outer ear, pinky for the inner ear, and thumb behind the ear. 5 I testify that there is no god but Allah, alone, without partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

Certainty is not lifted by doubt: if you are certain that you did wudhu but unsure if you broke it, then you dont need to remake it. If youre certain your broke it and not that you did it since, then you need to remake it.

Ghusl (Ritual Bathing) Quick Reference Sheet

The Prophet {pbuh} said: A prayer is not accepted without purification. When is Ghusl Necessary? Ghusl is required when one enters a state of major ritual impurity. This is caused by: 1) Exiting of sperm (males) or sexual fluid (females) 2) Entering of the head of the penis into the vagina (both) 3) Menstruation and post-natal bleeding (Ghusl is done after this period is over) 4) Entering Islam, if any of 1-3 has happened prior to it What happens if Im in a state of major ritual impurity? If youre in a state of major impurity (and havent done Ghusl), you cannot: a) Touch the Quran b) Recite Quran c) Perform prayer (Salat) d) Stay in a mosque How to Perform Ghusl 6 1. Begin with the name of God: Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem7 2. Remove any unclean matter on the body8 3. Perform Wudhu (with emphasis on washing the mouth and nose) 4. Make the intention for Ghusl as you begin washing, and keep it thereafter 5. Pour water over the head, running fingers through hair to saturate it, 3 times 6. Pour water over entire right side, then left side, of the body, 3 times 7. Make sure that every part of the body has been washed - Including hard-to-reach areas: under folds of skin, roots of hair, outer ear *Note: all of the above steps can be completed while in a shower. Try not to waste water. When is it recommended to do Ghusl? Even if one hasnt entered a state of major ritual impurity, it is recommended to bathe: 1) For the Friday prayer 2) On the two Eids 3) Before going on Hajj 4) If one hasnt done it in a while What if I break my Wudhu during the Ghusl?

Bolded words indicate requirements: if one misses them, the wudhu must be repeated. Non-bolded words indicate recommended actions: if one does them, one gets extra reward for following the Prophet (pbuh). 7 In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 8 This includes all impediments to the skin cloth, dirt, paint, etc.

If one breaks their Wudhu (by passing gas, for example) during the Ghusl, then one need not restart the Ghusl, but can simply continue and finish it. However, since they did break their Wudhu, they have to remake it before they pray again.