t n o  Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah © Erkam Publications 2013 / 1434 H The author : Asim Uysal Translator : Joseph Shamis Copy Editor : Suleyman Derin Graphics : Rasim Şakiroğlu (Worldgraphics) Printed by : Erkam Printhouse Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah By Asim Uysal ERKAM PUBLICATIONS n b o    Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah “Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim” “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.” Basmalah Allah is our first word. Our essence is full of iman. When I wake every morning, I hurry to say bismillah. When I eat or drink something, Or open my book, I turn to my Lord, And strength comes to my heart, It never falls from my tongue, Allah holds my hand. 4 n o Religious Knowledge Trough uestions and Answers  Religious Knowledge Through Questions and Answers Who is your Lord? Allah. Who made you? Allah made me. Whose servant are you? Allah’ servant. Where did we come from and where are we going? We came from Allah and we’re returning to Allah. Why were we created? To serve and worship Allah. What must people do in their service? Worship Allah, obey the Prophet, and live Allah’s religion on the earth, letting it dominate all their lives. Since when were we Muslims? Since “ alu bala” we have been Muslims, alhamdulillah. What does “Qalu bala” mean? Before Allah, the Exalte d, created the world, he created the souls of all people (those that have come and those that will come), gathered them into his presence and asked them: “Alastu bi rabbikum” (Am I not your Lord?) Then the souls replied “Yes, You are our Lord,” they replied, actually pledging “We will serve You and hope for Your help.” The time of this conversation is called the “ alu Bala.” How many is Allah? Allah is one. 5 n o    Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah What is your religion? Islam. Your book? The Quran “al-Karim.” Your qibla? The Ka‘ba. From whose line of descent are you? From Adam’s (Peace be upon him). From whose community are you? From the community of Muhammad (pbuh). What was his father’s name? Abdullah. What was his mother’s name? Amina. What was his wet-nurse’s name? Halima. What was his grandfather’s name? Abdulmuttalib. What was his uncle’s name? Abu Talib. Where was our prophet born? In Mecca. When was he born? In 571 A.D. When did the mother and father of our prophet die? Our prophet’s father died two months before he was born. Our prophet’s mother died when he was six years old. How old was he when his prophethood began? His prophethood began when he was 40 and carried out his prophetic duties for 23 years. How old was our prophet when he died? He left for the afterlife when he was 63. Where is the grave of our prophet? In Medina. 6 n o Religious Knowledge Trough uestions and Answers  How many children did our prophet have? Seven. His daughters were Zaynab, Ruqiyya, Um Kulthum, and Fatimah. His sons were Qasim, Abdullah, and Ibrahim. Except for Fatimah, all our prophet’s children died during his lifetime. What are the prophet’s wives to us? Our mothers, the mothers of all Muslims. Who was his first wife? And who was his last? His first wife was Khadijah, and his last wife was A‘ishah. How many grandchildren did our prophet have? He had two grandsons, Hasan and Husayn, and two granddaughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum. Whose children were they? They were the children of Ali and Fatimah. t 7 n o    Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah 32 Fards Iman (Belief): Iman is confirmation with the heart and confessing with the tongue. That is to say, confirmation with the heart of everything that the Prophet (pbuh) brought from Allah and saying this with the tongue. (Amantu) The Pillars of Belief: 6 1- Belief in Allah’s existence and oneness. 2- Belief in Allah’s angels. 3- Belief in the books sent by Allah. 4- Belief in Allah’s prophets. 5- Belief in the Last Day and the Resurrection after death. 6- Belief that the Good and the Bad come from Allah. The Pillars of Islam: 5 1- Saying the shahadah. 2- Fasting in Ramadan. 3- Praying five times a day. 4- Making the Hajj, if it is fard (necessary) for you. 5- The paying of zakat (charity) by the rich on their wealth, once a year. The Fards (necessary obligations) for Wudu’ (ablutions): 4 1- Washing the face once. 2- Washing the arms up to and including the elbows. 3- Wiping a quarter of the head. 4- Washing the feet up to the ankles. 8 n o 32 Fards  The Fards of Ghusl (greater ablutions): 3 1- Rinsing the mouth with lots of water. 2- Cleaning the nose, taking water up the nasal passages. 3- Washing the whole body, leaving no place dry. The Fards of Tayammum: 2 1- First, make the niyyah (intention) for tayammum. 2- Second, strike clean earth with your hands and wipe the face, then strike again and wipe your arms. The Fards of Salah (the Prayer): 12 Six are for Before the Prayer, Six are for After a- The Conditions of Salah (Before): 1- Purification from hadath (spiritual impurities): Washing away hadath, spiritual impurities that cannot be seen with the eye, with wudu’, ghusul, and/or tayammum. 2- Purification from najasat (physical impurities): Washing away physical impurities that may be seen with the eye from the body, the clothes, and the place of prayer. 3- Satru l‘awrah (Covering of the Body): Covering the parts of the body that, according to religious law, must not be seen. For men, from the navel to the knees; for women, everything should be covered except the hands, face, and feet. 4- Turning to the iblah (direction of prayer): Facing the qiblah during prayer. 5- Time: Praying each prayer during its prescribed time. 6- Niyyah (intention): Making the intention to pray the desired prayer. 9 n o    Let’s Learn About Wudu’, Ghusl, and Salah b- The Conditions of Salah (During the Prayer): 1- The opening takbir (“Allahu Akbar”): Starting the prayer with “Allahu Akbar.” 2- iyam (Standing): Standing while praying (if one is not disabled). 3- ira’ah (Recitation): Reciting the Quran during the prayer. 4- Ruku‘ : Bowing 5- Sujud: Prostrating 6- a’datu lAhirah (Final sitting): Sitting at the end of the prayer until saying “Attahiyyat.” Fard: The things that Allah commands are the fards, such as salah, fasting, and zakah. It is haram to avoid doing something that is fard. Someone who denies a fard is removed from the religion. Sunnah: The words and deeds that, with the intention of worship, our beloved Prophet (pbuh) did often, very infrequently left undone, and recommended for us are the sunnahs. Haram: The things that are forbidden, such as the drinking alcohol and the revealing of the hair by women to strange men, are haram. The refraining from things that are haram is rewarded. Someone who does things that are haram is a sinner. Someone that intentionally disbelieves exits from the religion. 10 n