Allah says: Whichever way you turn, there is the countenance of Allah (2:115).
In spite of the fact that the heavens and the earth belong to Allah, He made it such that facing certain directions has a specific effect. He thus made it obligatory to face the Noble Ka’bah in prayer. The best place on the earth after the place in which the Prophet is buried ﷺ is the Noble Ka’bah. Continue reading Insights into Purification: Facing the Qiblah
When performing wudu, one begins with the right hand before the left and the right foot before the left.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ loved to begin with the right side in all his affairs: when performing wudu and ghusl, when putting on his sandals and when combing his hair. Continue reading Insights into Purification: Beginning with the Right
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Had I not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the siwak for every prayer.”
He also said ﷺ: “Praying two rakats with the siwak is better than praying seventy rakats without it.” Continue reading Insights into Purification: the Siwak
By merely mentioning the name of Allah before any action a barrier is placed between us and the forces of darkness and evil. When our actions are safe from evil and darkness we are ready to travel the path to Allah. Continue reading Insights into Purification: Beginning Wudu in the Name of Allah
It is obligatory to completely wash your feet from the tips of your toes up to and including your ankles. To ensure you have done this, you must also wash a little above your ankles, for that which is required to fulfil an obligation is in itself obligatory.
The Prophet ﷺ once saw that some of the Companions had neglected to wash their heels, so he called out at the top of his voice: “Woe to the heels from the Fire!” Continue reading Insights into Purification: Washing Your Feet
When you perform wudu, it is obligatory to completely wash your arms from your fingertips up to and including your elbows . To ensure you have done this, you must also wash a little above your elbows, for that which is required to fulfill an obligation is in itself obligatory.
When you perform wudu, the sins you have committed with your hands disappear with the last drop of water that runs off your arms. Continue reading Insights into Purification: Washing Your Arms
It is compulsory to completely wash your face when you perform wudu. We constantly wash the face which we present to the creation, but how often do we wash the face which we present to our Creator? What place does Allah have in our hearts? Continue reading Insights into Purification: Washing Your Face
The word “wudu” has the meaning of beauty, light and cleanliness. When you perform wudu, the water washes away your sins. Wudu, prayer, gatherings of knowledge, certain adhkar and giving charity all wipe out different types of wrongdoings. We should thus try to perform different actions so that all our wrongdoings are wiped out. Continue reading Insights into Purification: the Light of Wudu
If a dead creature which does not have flowing blood falls into some water, it does not make the water impure. The scholars say this includes a gecko and anything smaller than it.
The gecko came to the fire in which Sayyiduna Ibrahim had been cast and blew upon it, trying to increase its ferocity. Obviously this had no effect on the fire but due to its bad intention it is recommended to kill geckos.
The frog on the other hand filled its mouth with water and put it on the fire, trying to extinguish it. Obviously this had no effect on the fire but due to its good intention and its respect for Ibrahim it is impermissible to kill frogs. Continue reading Insights into Purification: The Gecko and the Frog
Allah created physical tangible water with which we cleanse our bodies from impurities, remove states of ritual impurity and wash our clothing and containers.
But He also created noble spiritual water with which our hearts, minds and souls may be cleansed from all types of impurities inward and outward, large and small. Continue reading Insights into Purification: A Different Type of Water
