Stairs to Bliss - by Imam Shurunbulali (rahmatullahi alaihi)

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

The Model Wudu

One of the primary uses of pure water is for wudu. Although not included in the original text, below is a step by step listing, in order, of a proper wudu.

1) The individual should begin by facing the Qiblah (mustahab).

2) Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim is recited and an intention made (sunnah). The intention can be, for example, "I intend to perform wudu to purify myself according to the command of Allah (swt) and with His name."

3) Next the hands are washed to the wrists three times (sunnah).

4) Then, the mouth is rinsed to the back of the throat three times. If a tooth-stick is available it should be used at this time, otherwise, use of the fingers or a cloth to slightly brush the teeth and gums will also suffice (sunnah).

5) Then, the nasal passages are washed to the soft bone three times (sunnah). For this act, as well as rinsing the mouth, water should be placed in the nasal passages with the right hand and removed with the left.

6) Next, the face is washed three times (once is fard, three times is sunnah). The face is defined as the area between the forehead and the chin and between the two earlobes. If an individual has a thick beard its outer surface must be washed in place of its underlying skin.

7) Next, the right hand is washed including the elbow thee times (once is fard, three is sunnah) and then the left hand including the elbow is washed three times (once is fard, three is sunnah). While washing each hand, interspersing the fingers of the opposite hand between the fingers of the hand being washed is sunnah. Also any object which prohibits water from reaching the skin/nails, for example nail polish, a ring, or a watch, must be removed.

8) Wet both hands once. Use the inner surface of the middle, ring, and small finger to wipe the head from the front to the back. Then take the palm and coming from the back of head to the front wipe the sides of the head. Finally take the thumb and the index finger to wipe the inner (using the index finger) and outer surfaces of the ears (using the thumb).

9) Without wetting the hand, take the back of the both hands and wipe the back of the neck. The throat should not be wiped. This, together with step eight, allows for completion of several of the steps of wudu while economizing water.

10) Wash the right foot including the ankles three times (once is fard, three is sunnah). Then wash the left foot including the ankles three times (once is fard, three is sunnah). Interspersing the left pinky between the toes is sunnah.

11) Recite the following supplication as prescribed by the Prophet (saw):

I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without a partner, and I testify that Muhammad (saw) is His servant and Messenger.

O Allah, make me from among the oft repenting and make me from the pure.

12) Pray two rak'ah to greet the wudu.

While the aim is to perfect wudu at every instance, some of these steps are fard (mandatory), and if left, render the wudu incomplete. Other steps are sunnah and therefore, earn reward if preformed, and if left unnecessarily result in sin. Finally some are mustahab (desirable), and thus earn reward if done, but do not result in sin if left. The author devotes the next several sections of his text to classifying each individual action into these legal categories.

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

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