Wudhu The Hanafi Way

A persons' Wudhu does not remain valid in any of the following instances:
1. Answering the call of nature.
2. Emergence of matter from the private parts.
3. Passing of wind.
4. Flowing of blood from any part of the body
5. Flowing of pus from any part of the body.
6. Vomiting a mouthful.
7. When a person falls asleep.
8. If a person becomes unconscious.
9. Laughing loudly during prayer.


The FARDH acts of Wudhu
The Wudhu has FOUR fardh acts. If any ONE is left out or not done correctly, the Wudhu will NOT be valid. The Faraaidh of Wudhu are as follows:
1) Washing the face from ear to ear and from the top of the forehead to below the chin once.
2) Washing both hands and arms up to the elbows once.
3) Making Masah of one quarter of the head once.
4) Washing both feet up to the ankles once.


The SUNNAT acts of Wudhu
It is necessary to carry out all the Sunnat factors of Wudhu. In order to gain full Thawaab of Wudhu it is important that the Sunnats are followed closely. Deliberate and continuous neglect of the Sunnat factors is sinful.
The Sunnats in Wudhu are as follows;
1) Niyyat (intention) for Wudhu
2) Reciting Tasmiyah: Bismillah…
3) Using a Miswaak
4) Washing both hands as far as the wrists thrice.
5) Rinsing the mouth thrice.
6) Applying water into the nostrils thrice.
7) Making Masah of the whole head.
8) Washing every part thrice.
9) Masah of the ears.
10) Khilaal of the beard, fingers and toes.
11) Following the method of performing Wudhu, in sequence.
12) Washing the various parts in quick succession so that by the end off Wudhu all the parts are still wet.


The MAKROOH acts of Wudhu
The following acts will wipe away all Thawaabs of performing the Wudhu;
1) Making Wudhu in a dirty place.
2) Indulging in worldly talk.
3) Doing wudhu in a way that is against the Sunnat.
4) Cleaning the nose with the right hand
5) Using more water then is required.
6) Splashing water on the face
7) Disturbing another person who is making Wudhu


Method of performing Wudhu
Sit on an elevated place preferably facing the Qibla. Make the Niyyat of Wudhu and recite
Bismillah-hir Rahman-ir Rahim.
First wash both hands as far as the wrist starting with the right hand.
Rinse the mouth three times and use a Miswaak, a coarse cloth or your right forefinger as a substitute. Gargling the mouth is recommended (for those who are not fasting).
Rinse the nostrils next by applying water into the nose thrice with your right hand and blowing it out. Clean the inside of your nose with the little finger of your left hand, making sure that the water reaches the soft part of your nose.
Collect water in your hands and wash your face thrice: from one ear to the other and from the top of the forehead to below the chin. This is followed by making Khilaal of the beard. The Khilaal is done by passing the right hand through the beard and thus wetting the skin.
The right hand should then be washed up to the elbow thrice followed by your left hand.
Make Masah of the whole head as follows; Wet your hands and pass your palms over your head to the back and bring your hands back to the front.
Make Masah of the ears by placing your forefingers into your ears and follow the channel away from the ear hole. Then run your thumbs behind your ears starting at the bottom.
Make Masah of the neck by passing the back of your hands over your neck. Here three fingers are used of each hand. First wipe the right hand side of your neck using your right hand then wipe the left hand side using your left hand.
Having completed the Masah, do the Khilaal of the fingers. This is done by passing the left hand fingers through the right hand fingers over the back of the hand. Thereafter do likewise for the left hand fingers.
Wash your feet thrice starting with your right foot up to the ankles. Then wash the left foot in the same way.
Finally make Khilaal of the toes. Pass the little finger of the left hand in between the toes of both feet, starting from the little toe of the right foot and ending with the little toe of your left foot.
Upon completing the Wudhu, recite the second Kalima (Kalima-e-Shahaadat).


TAHIYATUL WUDHU
"After completion of Wudhu, performance of two Rakaats nafil is full of blessings. Paradise becomes obligatory for a person who prays this". (Ref: Muslim). The method of performing this nafil is as follows; after completing Wudhu do NOT dry yourself and start your Salaat straight away so that water from your Wudhu is still dripping off you.

Ghusl The Hanafi Way

GHUSL is the Islamic method of washing the body to obtain purification from "Hadathe Akbar" or "Greater Impurity".

HADATHE AKBAR
Hadathe Akbar is caused by the following acts:
1) Discharge of semen accompanied by sexual lust, whether such discharge occurs while sleeping or while awake.
2) Sexual intercourse.
3) Mensus (Haidh).
4) Blood discharge after child birth (Nifaas).

If any of the above acts results, one will be in a state of impurity (janaabat). Purification is only possible by the means of Ghusl.


Rules regarding HADATHE AKBAR
In the state of Hadathe Akbar or Janaabat, the following things are prohibited:
1) Salaat.
2) Touching the Holy Quraan.
3) Reciting the Holy Quraan, even without touching it.
4) To enter into a Mosque.
5) To make Tawaaf of the Holy Ka'bah.
6) In the state of Haidh, intercourse is not permissible; it is a great sin.
7) It is not permissible to remove, cut or break any nails or hair from any part of the body during the state of impurity.


How to perform GHUSL
The following is the Sunnat method of performing Ghusl:
1) Wash both hands to the wrists. The hands should NOT be dipped into the basin of water for washing. Water should either run from the tap or be poured from a container.
2) The private parts and the surrounding areas must be washed, whether there is impurity or not.
3) Wash the part of the body where there may be some impurity.
4) Make a FULL WUDHU. If Ghusl is being made where the water pools around the feet, then delay washing the feet until the END of the Ghusl.
5) After Wudhu, pour water over the head THREE times.
6) Then, pour water over the right shoulder THREE times.
7) Then, pour water over the left shoulder THREE times. The water should be poured in such a way that the ENTIRE body is thoroughly drenched.
8) If the feet were not washed at the time of Wudhu, then wash them now. While pouring the water, rub well to ensure that no part of the body remains dry.


The FARDH acts of GHUSL
The Ghusl has three compulsory acts and they are as follows:
1) Rinsing the mouth thoroughly, ensuring that the water reaches the back of the throat.
2) Taking water into the nostrils to the limit of the tender or fleshy part of the nose.
3) Drenching the WHOLE body - from head to toe - thoroughly, ensuring that no part of the body is left dry.
If the above points are carried out then the Ghusl is complete and one is purified.

Absolute care must be taken to ensure that the Fardh acts are not left out, as the Ghusl will not be valid.


The SUNNAT acts of GHUSL
1) Make niyyat (intention) for Ghusl
2) Wash both hands
3) Wash the private parts
4) Make Wudhu
5) Pour water over head thrice
6) Pour water over right shoulder thrice
7) Pour water over left shoulder thrice

There is great reward in fulfilling the Sunnat acts. The Sunnan acts listed above should not be neglected or left out unnecessarily.


The MAKROOH acts of Ghusl
The factors, which are makrooh in Wudhu, are also makrooh in Ghusl. Other Makrooh factors in Ghusl are:
1) To recite ANY dua during Ghusl
2) To face the Qibla is not good
3) Speaking unnecessarily, while nude.


Some Masaa'il relating to Ghusl.
1) Do NOT face the Qibla when doing Ghusl.
2) Do NOT talk.
3) Make haste in covering the body after Ghusl.
4) Even if a single hair remains dry then the Ghusl is NOT valid.
5) If one recalls that a certain part of the body was not washed then they can wash it at that time. There is no need to repeat the Ghusl.
6) Nail varnish, rings and other ornaments must be removed to ensure that the water reaches all places.
7) Any food particle stuck between the teeth MUST be removed BEFORE performing Ghusl.
Remember to cut the nails of the fingers and toes as well as removing any unwanted hair from under the armpits and under the navel. The removal of unwanted hair and nails should preferably be carried out once a week. Care should be taken that if nails/hair are left in excess of 40 days then the person will be guilty of sin. 

HAJJ

Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship. 
It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once in life time. Apart from the financial aspect, the ability to afford the pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and perform the Hajj in peace. Muslims perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the holy sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first place of worship ever built on this earth, Muslims thus refer to it as House of God. The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and worship God. There are no difficulties to perform Hajj apart from the obvious financial commitment in order to travel to Mecca. That is the reason why, strictly speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those who have fulfilled all their worldly needs and have no pressing commitments left and indeed can afford the passage to Mecca. It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to God. During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies. During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity. During Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.

ZAKAT

Zakat (Alms giving) is a part of devotion enjoined upon Muslims by the Holy Quran.
 It is a means where the well-off pay a set amount of their wealth.
Zakat means to purify oneself. It is obligatory on Muslims to pay a little percentage of their accumulated wealth towards Zakat, which is used for the benefit of the needy and the poor.
Zakat is not levied on one's property that is in personal use, rather on the assets which have a means of increasing and which are surplus to one's needs.
It is a means of social justice and order. It teaches sympathy of the highest order.

FASTING

Along with salat, another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from some exemptions, to fast in the month of Ramadhan. During the hours of fasting, food and drink and conjugal relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It is enjoined that during fasting one should pay attention to remembrance of God and study the Holy Quran in abundance. One should try to curtail one's worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadhan, and to be particularly inclined towards charity and alms giving. Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends. The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise sacrificing physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadhan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.

SALAT

Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam, it is a most important constituent of the faith. It is prayer of a very high level. The Holy Quran repeatedly enjoins the offering of salat and indeed declares it to be a fundamental trait of a believer. The benefits of salat are countless.
 The Holy Quran says: "And enjoin Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is for the righteous". Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the self that incites to evil. God created man to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of worship. . The Holy Quran also says "Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46) Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say: "Tell me if one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in consequence of them." (Bukhari) As for the punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward and punishment rest solely with Allah. Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: "Giving up prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim) Five Daily Prayers Salat, the obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.

SHAHADAH

A Muslim expresses his/her faith (Iman) in the following words Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa- ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu
The English translation of the Shahadah is as follows: I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts, i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human being and the Messenger of Allah. Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other beliefs hang on this belief.

Therefore the acknowledgement and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith. Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim. A Muslim accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there forever. A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist. The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed.
 He lived among his people for a long time and his life is documented in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example.
The way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to the belief in absolute Unity of Allah.
This declaration make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim - one who completely submits to the will of Allah.

PILLARS OF ISLAM

Pillars of Islam Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Islam is based on five articles:

 1. To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. 
2. To observe Prayer (Salat). 
4. To Observe fasting during Ramadhan." (Bukhari) 
3. To Pay Zakat (Alms giving) 
5. To perform the Pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Hajj).

 Abdullah ibn Amr bin Aas, may Allah be pleased with them, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
 "A Muslim is one against whose tongue and hands other Muslims are secure, and an Emigrant is one who departs from what Allah has forbidden." (Bukhari)

Whom Do You Love

Whom Do You Love Narrated Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
 "A person (set out to) visit his brother in another town. Allah deputed an angel to wait for him on his way. When he came across the man he asked: 'Where do you intend to go?' The man replied: 'I intend to go to my brother in this town.' The angel asked: 'Have you done any favour to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)?' The man replied: 'No, excepting this that I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.' Thereupon the angel said: 'I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love your brother (for His sake).'" [Sahih Muslim] 

To love someone for the sake of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is to invite Allah’s love upon oneself!
Unfortunately, most of our friendships these days are based on love of material things and not love of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). Our socialization is based on desire to move up the ladder, or the desire to know people who we might be able to extract favours from.
 How many friends do you have whom you love only because they love Allah (subhana wa ta'ala)?
 A friendship that is for the sake of Allah has love of Allah as the common interest, Allah’s pleasure as the common goal, and love and obedience of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as the common profession.
 How can you judge your love of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala)? Actions speak louder than words. When a person is in love, don't they try more than anything else to please their beloved?

Prohibition of Squandering Wealth

Prohibition of Squandering Wealth

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Verily, Allah likes three things for you and disapproves three things for you. He likes that you should worship Him Alone, not to associate anything with Him (in worship) and to hold fast to the Rope of Allah and not to be divided among yourselves; and He disapproves for you irrelevant talk, persistent questioning and the squandering of the wealth.'' [Muslim].

Commentary: 

There are three things which have been disliked are mentioned in its text. Beside stressing Tauhid, holding fast to the Rope of Allah and unity (which are greatly liked by Allah), this Hadith forbids unnecessary debate, hair-splitting and extravagance as all the three are disliked by Allah. Wealth has a great importance in man's life since it is the very source of sustenance and basis of his livelihood, its wastage is akin to cutting the branch of the tree on which one is sitting. Warrad, the scribe of Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah dictated a letter to me addressed to Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate at the end of each obligatory Salat (prescribed prayer): "La ilaha illallahu, wahadahu la sharika lahu, lahul- mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai'in Qadir. Allahumma la mani`a lima a`taita, wa la mu`tiya lima mana`ta, wa la yanfa`u dhal-jaddi mink-al-jaddu. (There is no true god except Allah, the One, Who has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Able to do everything. O Allah! Nobody can withhold what You give; and nobody can give what You withhold; and the high status of a person is of no avail against Your Will).'' He also wrote to him that the Prophet (PBUH) used to forbid irrelevant talk, wasteful expenditure, persistent questioning, disobedience of parents (especially mothers), infanticide of daughters by burying them alive, depriving others of their rights and acquisition of property wrongfully. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: The matters mentioned in this Hadith have been discussed in detail before. What this Hadith specially brings out is that the custom or writing or dictating Ahadith existed even during the age of the Companions. In this respect that was the first period of the compilation of Ahadith. Thus, it is wrong to say that there did not exist any system of recording Hadith in the days of the Companions.