Tahārah means purification from Hadath (ritual impurity) and Khabath (material impurity).
Purification from "khabath" is by removing material impurity from one’s body, clothes, or place of prayer.
Purification from "hadath" is by performing ablution or Ghusl (ritual bath) with pure water, or by performing Tayammum (dry ablution) in case the water is unavailable or it is difficult for one to use it.
By washing it with water until it becomes clean.
As for what is licked by a dog, it has to be washed seven times the first of which must be with dust.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a Muslim - or a believer - performs ablution and washes his face, every single sin that he committed with his eyes will be washed away from his face with water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every single sin that he committed with his hands will be washed away from his hands with water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his feet, every single sin that he committed with his feet will be washed away from his feet with the water, or with the last drop of water, until he finally becomes purified from all his sins." [Narrated by Muslim]
"We perform ablution by: - Washing the hands - three times"
Rinsing the mouth three times, and sniffing water into the nose and blowing it out of the nose - three times
Madmadah: It means rinsing the mouth with water then spitting it out.
Istinshāq: It means sniffing water into the nose with the right hand.
Istinthār: It means blowing water out of the nose with the left hand.
Washing the face - three times
Washing the arms including the elbows - three times
Wiping over the head, moving the hands forwards then backwards, and wiping the ears
Washing the feet up to the ankles - three times
This is the most perfect manner of performing ablution as authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the Hadīths of Al-Bukhāri and Muslim that were narrated by ‘Uthmān, ‘Abdullah ibn Zayd, and others.
It was also authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in Sahīh al-Bukhāri and others that he washed each of the organs of ablution once and sometimes twice.
The obligatory acts of ablution are the acts that render one’s ablution invalid if one of them is left out. They are:
1. Washing the face, which includes rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose
2. Washing the arms including the elbows
3. Wiping over the head, which includes wiping the ears
4. Washing the feet up to the ankles
5. Maintaining the prescribed order by washing the face first, followed by the hands, then wiping over the head, and finally washing the feet.
6. Succession, which means washing the organs of ablution successively without leaving an interval of time that allows the organs to become dry.
An example in this regard is when one performs only half of the ablution and then completes it some other time. In this case, one’s ablution is invalid.
The recommended acts of ablution are those acts which if performed, one's reward increases, and if one does not perform them, he incurs no sin and his ablution is valid. They are:
The invalidators of ablution are:
1. Whatever comes out of the two private parts, i.e., urine, feces, or wind"
2. Sleep, madness, or loss of consciousness
3. Eating camel meat
4. Touching the front or back private parts with hand without a barrier
Tayammum: It means using dust or the like of earth when water is unavailable, or it cannot be used.
We perform Tayammum by striking the dust once with the palms of the hands and wiping the face and the back parts of the hands once only.
All the invalidators of ablution,
also when water is available.
The Khuffs refer to the leather socks that one may put on his feet.
The Jawrabs, on the other hand, refer to socks that are made of other than leather.
It is permissible to wipe over them in ablution instead of washing the feet.
It is meant to make things easy for people and alleviate the hardship of performing ablution, especially in cold weather during winter, and while traveling when it is hard for one to take off the socks.
1. To put on the leather socks while being in a state of Tahārah (ritual purification), i.e., after performing ablution.
2. The leather socks must be pure, since it is impermissible to wipe over what is impure.
3. The leather socks must cover the whole feet including ankles.
4. Wiping over leather socks must be within the limited period of time, which is a day and a night for a resident, and three days and three nights for a traveler.
It is by putting one’s wet fingers over his toes and wiping over them up to the shin, using the right hand to wipe over the right feet and the left hand to wipe over the left feet. The fingers should be kept apart during the wiping, and it should be done once without being repeated.
1. Expiry of the specific duration of time for wiping, since it is impermissible to wipe over them after that duration: a day and a night for a resident, and three days and three nights for a traveler.
2. Taking off the leather socks or one of them after wiping.
Salāh is worshiping Allah by specific words and acts. It starts with Takbīr (saying: Allāhu Akbar i.e., Allah is the Greatest) and ends with Taslīm (salutation of peace that ends the prayer).
Prayer is an obligation upon every Muslim.
Allah Almighty says:
{Indeed, prayer is prescribed for the believers at specific times.}
[Surat an-Nisā’: 103]
Abandoning the prayer constitutes disbelief, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The covenant (that distinguishes) between us and them (disbelievers) is the prayer; so, whoever abandons it has indeed committed disbelief." [Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, and others]
There are five obligatory prayers in one day and night. They are: the Fajr (dawn) prayer: two Rak‘ahs, the Zhuhr (noon) prayer: four Rak‘ahs, the ‘Asr (afternoon) prayer: four Rak‘ahs, the Maghrib (sunset) prayer: three Rak‘ahs, and the ‘Ishā’ (night) prayer: four Rak‘ahs.
1. Islam, as the prayer of a disbeliever is invalid
2. Sanity, as the prayer of an insane person is invalid
3. Discernment, as the prayer of the undiscerning child is invalid
4. The intention
5. Commencement of the prescribed time
6. Tahārah, i.e., removal of Hadath (ritual impurity)
7. Purification from physical impurity
8. Covering the ‘Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered)
9. Facing the Qiblah (direction of the Ka‘bah)
They are fourteen pillars, which are:
1. Standing in the obligatory prayer for the one who is capable
2. The opening Takbīr, which is saying: "Allāhu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest)
3. Reciting Surat al-Fātihah
4. Rukū‘ (bowing) while straightening one’s back and making his head in alignment with his back
5. Rising from Rukū‘
6. Standing up straight
7. Sujūd (prostration): It is by placing one’s forehead, nose, palms, knees, and tiptoes on the ground while prostrating
8. Rising from Sujūd
9. Sitting between the two prostrations
It is an act of Sunnah to sit on one’s left foot, while keeping the right foot straight upward and keeping its toes facing the Qiblah.
10. Serenity, which is calmness in performing each physical pillar
11. The last Tashahhud
12. Sitting for Tashahhud
13. Making Taslīm by saying: "As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāh" (may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you) - twice.
14. Maintaining the prescribed order of the pillars as mentioned; so, if one intentionally prostrates before bowing, his prayer is invalid. However, if he does so unintentionally, he must return back to perform bowing first then prostrate.
The obligatory acts of the prayer are eight; they are:
1. Making Takbīrs (saying: Allāhu Akbar), other than the opening Takbīr
2. Saying: "Sami‘allāhu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him) by the Imam and the one praying alone
3. Saying: "Rabbanā wa laka al-hamd" (O our Lord, all praise belongs to You)
4. Saying: "Subhāna rabbiya Al-‘Azhīm" (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent) once in Rukū‘ (bowing)
5. Saying: "Subhāna rabbiya Al-A‘lā" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) once in Sujūd (prostration)
6. Saying: "Rabbighfir lī" (O Lord, forgive me) between the two prostrations
7. Saying the first Tashahhud
8. Sitting for the first Tashahhud
They are eleven, which are:
1. Reciting Du‘ā’ al-Istiftāh (the opening supplication), after making the opening Takbīr, by saying: "Subhānak Allāhumma wa bihamdik, wa tabārak ismuk, wa ta‘ālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk" (Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You)
2. Making Ta‘awwudh (saying: A‘ūdhu billāh min ash-shaytān ar-rajīm) (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil)
3. Saying: "Bismillāh ar-Rahmān ar-Rahīm" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful)
4. Saying: "Āmīn" (Amen)
5. Reciting a surah after Surat al-Fātihah
6. Reciting the Qur’an audibly by the Imam
7. Saying after Tahmīd (praising Allah): "Mil’as-samāwāti wa mil’al-ardi wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in ba‘d" (filling the heavens, the earth, and whatever else You will)
8. The Tasbīhs (Glorifying Allah) after the first Tasbīh in Rukū‘, i.e., the second and third Tasbihs or more
9. The Tasbīhs (Glorifying Allah) after the first Tasbīh in Sujūd
10. Saying more than once: "Rabbighfir lī" between the two prostrations
11. Invoking the peace and blessings of Allah upon the Prophet and his family in the last Tashahhud and making supplication thereafter
Fourth: The physical Sunan (recommended acts) of the prayer, which are called "postures", are:
1. Raising both hands with the opening Takbīr
2. Raising both hands when performing Rukū‘
3. Raising both hands when rising from Rukū‘
4. Lowering the hands after that
5. Placing the right hand over the left one
6. Looking at one’s place of prostration
7. Leaving a gap between the feet while standing
8. Gripping the knees with both hands with the fingers spread out in Rukū‘, while straightening one’s back, and making one’s head in alignment with one's back
9. Resting the organs of prostration on the ground, while making sure that all of them touch the ground.
110. Keeping the arms away from the sides, the abdomen away from the thighs, and the thighs away from the legs; keeping the knees apart and keeping the feet erected with the toes separated and their bottom touching the ground; putting the hands in alignment with the shoulders while being spread out and with the fingers joined.
11. Engaging in Iftirāsh (to place the left foot on its side and sitting on it; and keeping the right foot erected while resting on the bottom of the toes facing them towards the Qiblah) while sitting between the two prostrations and during the first Tashahhud. However, performing Tawarruk (to sit with the left posterior on the ground; the right foot erected with the toes pointing towards the Qiblah; and the left foot on its side emerging from under the right foot) during the second Tashahhud.
12. Putting the hands spread out on the thighs with the fingers joined between the two prostrations and during the Tashahhud as well; however, in the latter, one may clench the little and ring fingers of the right hand, making a ring with the thumb and middle fingers, and pointing with the index finger when mentioning Allah.
13. Turning the face to the right and then to the left when making Taslīm
1. Leaving out one of the pillars or conditions of the prayer
2. Talking deliberately
3. Eating or drinking
4. Frequent and successive movements
5. Leaving out one of the obligatory acts of the prayer deliberately
The manner of the prayer is as follows:
- "Astaghfirullāh" (I ask Allah for forgiveness) - three times.
- "Allāhumma anta as-salām wa minka as-salām tabārakta ya dhal-jalāl wa al-ikrām" (O Allah, You are the Source of Peace and all peace comes from You, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor).
- "Lā ilāha illallāh wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr, Allāhumma lā māni‘a limā a‘tayt wa lā mu‘tī limā mana‘t wa lā yanfa‘u dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd (There is no god but Allah alone with no partners. To Him belong the sovereignty and praise, and He is Omnipotent over all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You have given, and none can give what You have withheld. No wealth or fortune can benefit anyone, as all wealth and fortune come from You).
- "Lā ilāha illallāh wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr, lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh, lā ilāha illallāh wa lā na‘budu illā iyyāh, lahu an-ni‘matu wa lahu al-fadl wa lahu ath-thanā’ al-hasan, lā ilāha illallāh mukhlisīn lahu ad-dīn wa law kariha al-kāfirūn" (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty and to Him belongs the praise, and He is Omnipotent over all things. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, there is no god but Allah and we worship none but Him. From Him (alone) come all blessings and favors, and all good praise is due to Him. There is no god but Allah and we make our worship purely for Him (alone) even if the disbelievers hate that).
- "Subhānallāh" (Glory be to Allah) - thirty-three times.
"Alhamdulillāh" (praise be to Allah) - thirty-three times.
"Allāhu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) - thirty-three times.
Then, to complete one hundred, say:
"Lā ilāha illallāh wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr" (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty and to Him belongs the praise, and He is Omnipotent over all things).
- Reciting Surat al-Ikhlās and Al-Mu‘awwidhāt (Surat al-Falaq and Surat an-Nās) three times after the Fajr and Maghrib prayers, and once after the other prayers.
- Reciting Āyat al-Kursi (verse no. 255 of Surat al-Baqarah) once.
- Two Rak‘ahs before Fajr
- Four Rak‘ahs before Zhuhr
- Two Rak‘ahs after Zhuhr
- Two Rak‘ahs after Maghrib
- Two Rak‘ahs after ‘Ishā’
Regarding their merit, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Allah builds a house in Paradise for whoever prays twelve voluntary Rak‘ahs in one day and night." [Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, and others]
The best day of the week is Friday, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:"Friday is among the best of your days. It is the day Adam was created and the day he died. It is the day on which the Trumpet will be blown and the Screak will be made; so, send more blessings on me on that day, for your blessings will be presented before me."
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, how can it be that our blessings will be presented to you while your body is decayed?" He replied:
"Allah Almighty has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets."
[Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, and others]
It is an individual duty on every male, adult, sane, and resident Muslim.
Allah Almighty says:{O you who believe, do not let your wealth and your children distract you from Allah’s remembrance. For whoever does that, it is they who are the losers.}
[Surat al-Munāfiqūn: 9]
The Jumu‘ah prayer consists of two Rak‘ahs in which the Imam recites the Qur’anic verses audibly, and which are preceded with two Khutbahs (sermons).
Not attending the Jumu‘ah prayer is impermissible, except for a Sharia-approved excuse. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:"Whoever misses three Friday prayers out of negligence, Allah places a seal upon his heart." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and others]
1. Taking a shower
2. Putting on perfume
3. Wearing the best of clothes
4. Going early to the mosque
5. Invoking blessings upon the Prophet frequently
6. Reciting Surat al-Kahf
7. Walking to the mosque
8. Seeking the hour in which supplication is most likely to be answered
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:"Praying in congregation is twenty-seven times better than praying alone." [Narrated by Muslim]
It means the attendance of the heart and the serenity of the body while performing the prayer.
Allah Almighty says:{The believers have attained true success:those who humble themselves in their prayers.}
[Surat al-Mu’minūn: 1-2]
It is a due right on a specific type of property, to be given to a specific group of people, at a specific time.
It is one of the pillars of Islam and an obligatory charity that is taken from the rich and given to the poor.
Allah Almighty says:{Give Zakah.}
[Surat al-Baqarah: 43]
It is different from Zakah, as it is giving anything by way of charity to be used in any of the aspects of goodness at any time.
Allah Almighty says:{Spend in the way of Allah.}
[Surat al-Baqarah: 195]
It means worshiping Allah by abstaining from the invalidators of fasting from the break of dawn until sunset, while having the intention of fasting. It is of two types:
First: Obligatory fasting: such as fasting the month of Ramadān, which is one of the pillars of Islam.
Allah Almighty says:{O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those who were before you, so that you may become righteous.}
[Surat al-Baqarah: 183]
Second: Voluntary fasting: such as fasting on Mondays and Thursdays; fasting three days every month, the best of which are the White Days (13th, 14th, 15th) of every lunar month.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:{"Whoever fasts Ramadān out of faith and seeking reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven."o were before you, so that you may become righteous.} [Agreed upon]
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:"Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from Hellfire (the distance of) seventy autumns for that day."
[Agreed upon]
"Seventy autumns" means: seventy years.
1. Eating and drinking deliberately
2. Vomiting deliberately
3. Apostasy
1. Hastening to break the fast
2. Having the Suhūr (pre-dawn meal) and delaying it
3. Increasing good deeds and acts of worship
4. Saying: "I am fasting" if insulted
5. Supplicating at the time of breaking the fast
6. Breaking the fast by fresh dates or ripe dates, or drinking water if dates are unavailable
Hajj means worshiping Allah Almighty by visiting His Sacred House and performing specific rituals during a specific time.
Allah Almighty says:{Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah upon all people who are able to make their way to it; whoever disbelieves, then Allah is in no need for the worlds.}
[Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 97]
1. Ihrām (entering the ritual state of consecration)
2. Standing at ‘Arafah
3. Performing the Tawāf (circumambulating the Ka‘bah) of Ifādah (pouring forth)
4. Performing Sa‘y (walking at a brisk pace) between Safa and Marwah
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:"Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah, while abstaining from intercourse and foul language, will return (free from sins) as if he were born anew."
[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and others]
"As if he were born anew" means: free from sins.
‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage) means worshiping Allah Almighty by visiting His Sacred House to perform specific rituals at any time.
1. Ihrām (entering a ritual state of consecration)
2. Tawāf (circumambulating the Ka‘bah)
3. Sa‘y (walking at a brisk pace) between Safa and Marwah
It means exerting one’s utmost effort in spreading Islam and defending it and its people, or fighting the enemies of Islam and Muslims.
Allah Almighty says:{And strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if only you knew.}
[Surat at-Tawbah: 41]