This Sharia law is according to the fatwas of Grand Ayatullah Syed Ali Hussain Sistani (ra). For more informations please visit www.sistani.org
Ablution or Wudhu
Wudu (Ablution) - Shia way [Eng Subs]
Conditions of Wudhu
The conditions for a correct Wudhu are mentioned as below:
1. The water should be clean.
2. The water should be pure (unmixed).
3. The water must be Mubah, i.e. it should not be usurped. Wudhu with usurped water is not correct.
4. The container of the water used for Wudhu should not be made of gold or silver.
5. The container or vessel which contains water should Mubah, unusurped.
6. Parts of the body on which Wudhu is performed should be Pak, at the time of washing and wiping.
7. The seventh condition is that the person doing Wudhu should have sufficient time at his disposal for Wudhu and prayer.
8. Wudhu should be performed in the prescribed sequence.
9. The acts of Wudhu should be done one after the other, without time gap in between.
10. A person doing Wudhu should wash his hands and face and wipe his head and feet himself.
11. There should be no constraint for using water.
12. There should be no impediment in the way of water reaching the parts of Wudhu.
How to perform Wudhu
Before every daily obligatory prayer it is necessary for a person to do Wudhu (ablution).
The conditions for a correct Wudhu are mentioned as below:
Niyyat (Intention):
Niyyat should be performed in ones mind as follows: "I perform the wudhu in order to cleanse myself from impurity and to make myself eligible for Salat, wajib qurbatan Ilallah." It is not therefore necessary to verbally recite the Niyyat.
Washing the face:
The portion of the face to be washed is from the forehead (from the point where the hair starts growing), to the end of the chin in length and its width is as much of the face that comes between the thumb and the middle finger when they are spread (wide open).
Even if the small portion of the face is not washed, Wudhu will be void. As a precaution, one must wash a little bit beyond the required limit. Any dirt on the face (or hands) which may prevent water from reaching the skin must be removed before you start the wudhu.
While washing the face, it is desirable to say: Alla humma bayyiz wajhi yawma taswaddufihil wujuh wala tusawwid waj hi yawma tabyazzul wujuh (O Lord! Make my face bright on the Day when the faces will turn dark. Do not darken my face on the day when the faces are bright).
The face and hands should be washed from above downwards, and if one washes the opposite way, his Wudhu will be void.
Washing the hands from the elbows to the tip of the fingers:
After washing the face, one should first wash the right hand and then the left hand, from the elbows to the tips of the fingers. In order to ensure that each elbow has been washed thoroughly, one should include some portion above the elbow in washing. If before washing his face, a person has washed his hands up to the wrist, he should, while performing Wudhu, wash them up to the tips of the fingers, and if he washes them only up to the wrist, his Wudhu is void.
While pouring water over the right elbow, it is Mustahab (desirable) to say: Alla humma a'tini kitabi bi yamini wal khulda fil jinani bi yasari was hasibni hisaban yasira (O Lord! Give my book of deeds in my right hand, and a permanent stay in Paradise on my left, and make my reckoning an easy one).
While pouring water over the left elbow, it is Mustahab to say: Alla humma la tutini kitabi bishimali wala min wara'I zahri wala taj alha maghlu latan ila unuqi wa a'uzu bika min muqat ta'atin niran (O Lord! Do not give my book of deeds in my left hand, nor from behind my back, nor chain it to my neck. I seek refuge in You from the Hell-fire).
While performing Wudhu, it is obligatory to wash the face and the hands once, and it is recommended to wash them twice.
After washing both the hands, one performing Wudhu should wipe the front part of his head with the wetness which is in his hand.
While performing the wiping of the head, it is Mustahab to say: Alla humma ghashshini bi rahmatika wa barakatika wa 'afwika (O Lord! Cover me with Your Mercy, Blessings and Forgiveness).
After wiping the head, one should wipe with the moisture present in one's hands, one's feet from any toe of the foot up to the joint. As a recommended precaution, the right foot should be wiped with the right hand, and the left foot with the left hand.
While performing the wiping of the feet, one should say: Alla humma thabbitni alas sirati yawma tazillu fihil aqdam. Waj'al sa'yi fi ma yurzika 'anni (O Lord! Keep me firm on the Bridge (to Paradise) on the Day when the feet will slip, and help me in my efforts to do things which will please You).
What Invalidates Wudhu
Wudhu becomes void on account of the following seven things:
Passing of urine
Excretion
Passing wind from the rear
A sleep, deep enough to restrict sight and hearing
Insanity
Intoxication
Unconsciousness
Every state which requires Ghusl, like Janabat