Stairs to Bliss - by Imam Shurunbulali (rahmatullahi alaihi)
The Book of Taharah - Conditions for the Correctness of Wudu

Explication by Shaykh Husain: Real Audio: Listen Online | Download

Translation
The conditions for its [wudu's] correctness are: complete washing of the skin of each body part with purifying water, removal of that which prevents water from reaching a body part, and the cessation of that which blocks the state of washing, such as visible secretions from the urinary tract.
And its [wudu's] legal consequence is: permissibility to perform that which was prohibited before it, for example, prayer and touching a copy of the Quran.

Commentary
Certain conditions must be satisfied for the wudu to be correct. The first is washing each of the required body parts such that purifying water wets the entire skin. If even a single millimeter of the skin of a required body part is left dry, then the wudu is invalid. Similarly, if something is present on the body that prevents water from reaching the skin of a required body part, the wudu is invalid. For example, if someone wears a ring that is so tight that water cannot wet the finger's skin underneath it, the wudu will not be correct. A similar ruling also applies if something that invalidates the wudu occurs while making the wudu, such as the passing of gas.

Hypothetical Case: Often, after intercourse, males continue to experience slight secretion of seminal fluid for some period of time. The act of intercourse (and the forceful secretion associated with it) necessitates a ritual bath [ghusl]. If someone performs this bath, but later continues to experience slight, non-forceful secretion of seminal fluid, he must perform wudu. This ends the state of minor ritual impurity caused by the non-forceful emission of small amounts of seminal fluid.

Hypothetical Case: If a person with a skin condition applies an ointment or similar medication to the skin for medical reasons, simply washing the ointment-covered skin satisfies the conditions outlined above.
Once preformed correctly by those upon whom it is mandatory, the result of the wudu is legal permission to perform those actions that require wudu. Such acts include prayer and touching a copy of the Quran.

Explication by Shaykh Husain: Real Audio: Listen Online | Download

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