What is the Definition of Taharah, its two divisions and body: Wudhu, Khuff and Gusl.

                           All praise is due to Allah, may peace, salutation and the blessing be upon the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his entire family, his companions and those that follow their footsteps with righteous until the last day. Indeed “tahara” is beautiful word which Allah (S.W.T) has provide us with to clean ourselves, which is said that is half of the deen (religion) which is pleasing to the ears and interestingly it is the quality that everyone is endeavoring to uphold in our daily life. Moreover, before going further I like to first and foremost define what is “Tahara”….? Tahara is the linguistically its mean cleanliness in general term and purification means both physically and in spiritually impurities. From jurisprudentially point of opinion tahara is define as means of removal of all the impurities.

Firstly tahara is divided into two that is.

1.        Ritual (Spiritual) purity

2.       Najasah (physical Impurities)

                                           Major or Minor Ritual Impurities entail:

      Wudhu (Ablution) Minor Ritual Impurities

      Tayammum (Dry Ablution) Minor Ritual Impurities

      Istinja Major  Ritual Impurities

      Gusl Major Ritual Impurities

      Hiding depending on the particular animal. For accepted animal is Minor impurity.

                          Firstly, Wudhu is the requisite for the validation of the prayer of an individual in order the prayer to be accepted you most perform Ablution as it has been described by Allah (S.W.T) and his messenger.  Before going further let me first and foremost define what Wudhu…? Wudhu it is the cleanliness in our religion (Al Islam) essential for some act of worship. Allah (S.W.T) has said in the glorious Quran:

‘O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.’ (Quran Suratul: Ma'idah verse: 6)

Wudhu has I define above, it become an obligation (compulsory) for us as Muslim when:

      We want stand for our Salah always as a pure ritual person.

      We want to touch the glorious Quran to feed our soul with.

Moreover, as Allah (S.W.T) said in the glorious Quran: “None touch it except the purified……” (Quran Suratul: Al-Wagi' ah: 79)

There are six Obligatory act in regards to performing Wudhu

1.      The Washing the entire face when performing Wudhu.  This involve rising the mouth with water including Nose. Therefore, one’s Wudhu is void if he/ she wash one’s face without rising both the mouth and Nose with water. For the reason that ‘both’ the mouth and the nose are all belong to the face. As Allah (S.W.T) says in regards to Wudhu:  “….wash your faces…” (Quran Suratul-Mai'dah:6) moreover Allah (S.W.T) order us to wash our face during Wudhu. Beside whoever disregard washing of any part of the face, is consider to be disobedient to Allah (S.W.T). Furthermore, prophet (ﷺ) used to rising his mouth and Nose whenever he performing Ablution.

2.    Washing the forearm up to the elbow. As Allah (S.W.T) has says that: “….And your forearms to the elbow...” (Quran Suratul: Ma'idah verse: 6) it is also indicated that prophet (ﷺ) used to: “…..wash his hands (during Wudhu) until he reach the upper arms” as mention above, this indicates to us that elbow are included in performing Wudhu. (Fawzan 2005)

3.    Wiping over the head. Allah (S.W.T) has says ‘concerning about wiping over the head’ that: “…..And wiping over heads…” (Quran Suratul-Mai'dah:6) moreover, Messenger of Allah also says that:  “the ears are treated as part of the head.” (Abu Dawdu , At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ad Daraqutni n.d.) For that motive it’s improper to abandon wiping over the head. Because it inadequate to wipe others; neglect the other aspect of it.

4.    Washing the feet and counting the ankle. As Stated by Allah (S.W.T) that: “….And wash your feet to the ankle…” (Quran Suratul-Mai'dah:6) from this we learn whenever we are performing ablution; we must wash the feet up to the ankle.

5.    Sequence. The commanded sequence has instructed by prophet (ﷺ) must be observed while in performing Wudhu. To make it clear one must the face from that forearms up to the elbow and wipe over the head and then wash the feet up to the ankle as instructed by prophet (ﷺ); it is clearly stated in this verse. Allah (S.W.T) says: “O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankle…” (Quran Suratul: Ma'idah verse: 6) furthermore prophet (ﷺ) says regards to following the sequence that: this an ablution without which Allah (S.W.T) will not accept the prayer. (Fawzan 2005)

6.    Succession. This is the process of washing all the organs “required” by Ablution without any defect or interval in between the two organs successfully.

REASON WHY THE FOLLOWING DO NOT NULLIFIED WUDHU

1)   Eating Camel meat…?  Ahmad (R.A.A) that: “Eating any lawful meat except camel meat is deem does not invalidate Wudhu” Rated sahih.

2)   Light sleep…? It is reported by Anas: “ The companion of the messenger would sleep by sitting while waiting for Insha prayer and pray with making Wudhu” (Guinenc 2017)

3)   Touching the skin of the opposite sex without lust..? Aisha that: “prophet (ﷺ) kiss one of her wives and went out for prayer and he did not perform Wudhu.” (Dawood Chapter 70, Hadith 179)

                                Secondly, I will like to define what khuff…? Is a thing that of which is worn upon the foot of an individual either been a leather and a like that covered the foot Etc.   Jawarab (cotton and like) and shurrab (stockings, sock).

The origin of Wiping is from Sunnah of our beloved prophet (ﷺ) here is the proof hadith of Al-mughirah bin Shu’bah (R.A.A) prophet said: “I move to remove his khuff he said, ‘…..indeed my feet were in a state of purity when I wore them.’ So he wiped over them.”  (Al-'Uthaymin 2007)

 Allah (S.W.T) said in the Quran that: “…., when you stand for prayer, wash you faces and hands up to the  elbows, and wipe your heads and feet up to the ankles.” (Al-'Uthaymin 2007)

Jabri (M.P.W.H) said: “….why did them not ask when being ignorant, for inquiry is the cure for ignorance.” (Fawzan 2005)

The period in which wiping will be valid and invalid

It is a permissible for resident to keep ”khuff” to wipe over their socks for one day and a night, likewise prophet (ﷺ) specified three days for a traveler whose journey legally permit him to shorten salah; permit for He/ She to wipe over one’s socks for three days and three night. Ali bin Abi Talib (R.A.A) said that: “The prophet (S.A.W) allowed three days and nights for the traveler and one day and night for the resident. (Muslim, Book2 "Purification" Number: 0537)  And Ubidullah b. ‘Amr and Zaid b. Abu Unaisa with the same chain of transmitters.  (Muslim, Book2 "Purification" Number: 0538)

The area which must be wipe

The upper part of the socks must be wipe as the prophet (ﷺ) did it himself with the reason, Allah (S.A.W) gave the facility to ease our burdens. On the other hand if anybody wipe the lower part is from Sunnah. Ali (R.A.A) said: “Had the religion been based on individual opinion, then underside (lower) of the khuff would have been wipe but then  I saw prophet (S.A.W) wipe over top (Upper) of his khuff”. Moreover this show us that only the upper part of the khuff is required or legislated to be wipe. (Al-'Uthaymin 2007)

Thirdly, the proof state if a lady has to unplait her hair when performing gusl  

 Women who have braids can do ghusl without having to undo their hair if they are in Jannabah (sexual impurity). However if they are impure due to Menstruation or Nifass (post Natel bleeding ) then they should open their hair before doing ghusl.

4 Cases in which gusl became an Obligation

1.    Ejaculation of semen owning desire, e.g. nocturnal emission and masturbation etc. as Allah (S.W.T) said: “if you are not in a state of janabah, purity yourselves.” (Quran Suratul-Mai'dah:6)

2.    Sexual intercourse, if the penis enters fully into the vulva, even no ejaculation occurred both of them must perform gusl.  As “…between her legs and arms and penetrates her, gusl become an obligation, ejaculation happen or not. (Muslim, gusl 2007)

3.    Following menstruation, as Allah (S.W.T) “….ask you concerning menstruation, say: it is harmful thing, so keep away from [intercourse with] women during menses. (Surah al-Baqarah (2):222)

4.    Death, Umm ‘Atiyyah (R.A.A) said that: “Allah’s messenger (ﷺ) came to us when his daughter died and said: ‘wash her three time, five time… then that if you see fit, used water and sidr…..’Shroud her in it”” (Al-Sheha 2004)

The proof state if the gusl for Jumuah prayer is an obligation

                          The prophet (ﷺ) said:  “It is obligatory upon every Muslim that he perform gusl, clean the teeth moreover perfume himself on Friday if he has some.” (Al-Sheha 2004)  Furthermore, prophet (S.A.W) said: “whoever performs gusl and then proceeds to the Jumu’ah prayer and pray what was written for him …sins he committed between Friday and next will be forgiven……” (Al-Sheha 2004)

                           In conclusion, Allah (S.W.T) make the deen easy and comfortable for all the Muslim; Allah (S.W.T) says he is clean and his love cleanness and our beloved prophet (S.A.W) said: purification is equal to the half of the deen. Purification guard Muslim life throughout, to remain pure and free from impurities. May Allah (S.W.T) accept our prayer Jazakallahu khair.

                        

Bibliography

Abu Dawdu , At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ad Daraqutni. n.d. Wudhu.

Ahmad, Imam. n.d. Gusl .

Al-Sheha, Abdul Rahman Abdul karim. 2004. Purification . May 2. Accessed October 24, 2018. http://www.islamhouse.com.

Al-'Uthaymin, Ibn. 2007. Rulings Regarding the wiping over socks for Purification . October 09. Accessed October 23, 2018. FIGH 102WWW.FQD 102/Rulings Regarding the Wiping Over the Socks for Purification - SunnahOnline.com.htm.

Bukhari, Sahih. n.d. Gusl.

Dawood, Sunnah Abu. Chapter 70, Hadith 179. Wudhu. Vol. Vol.1.

Fawzan, Sheikh Salah. 2005. Summary of Islamic Jurispredence. Edited by Dr. Muhammad Yahya and Dr. Main Dr. Attia Es-Sayyed Attia. Translated by Cairo Arabia For Information Technology. Vol. Volume 1. Saudi Arsbis Rayadh: Sulaiman A. Almaiman.

Guinenc, Mehmet Kirkinci and (Prof.Dr) Halil. 2017. Wudhu. November 06. Accessed October 24, 2018. http://www.questionsonislam.com.

Muslim, Sahih. Number: 0537. Book2 "Purification".

—. Number: 0538. Book2 "Purification".

—. 2007. gusl.

Quran. Suratul: Ma'idah verse: 6.

—. Suratul: Al-Wagi' ah: 79.

—. Suratul-Mai'dah:6.

(2):222. Surah al-Baqarah.