Purification & Prayer

1 Bismillāh · 2 hands to the wrists ×3 · 3 rinse the mouth ×3 · 4 the nose ×3 · 5 the face ×3 · 6 arms to the elbows, right then left, ×3 · 7 wipe the head once · 8 the ears once · 9 feet to the ankles, right then left, ×3.

Face, arms to the elbows, wiping the head, feet to the ankles — Qur’ān 5:6. The rest is sunnah, and the reward is in it.

Do not waste water — he ﷺ used about a mudd (a double handful). Use siwāk. Unbroken wuḍū may be renewed before each prayer. Over socks: wipe khuffayn for one day, three when travelling.

Anything leaving the two passages · deep sleep · loss of consciousness. Ḥanafī adds: flowing blood, and a mouthful of vomit. Shāfi‘ī adds: skin contact with the opposite sex, and touching the private parts.

Sexual discharge or intercourse · the end of menstruation or post-natal bleeding · death (washed by others). Recommended before Jumu‘ah, the two ‘Eids, and iḥrām.

Intention · wash the hands · wash the private parts · full wuḍū · pour water over the head three times, working it to the roots · then over the whole body, right side first. Nothing is left dry.

No water, not enough water, or water would cause harm — illness, injury, extreme cold, or a genuine shortage on a journey.

Intend · strike both palms once on clean earth, sand, or dust-bearing stone · wipe the whole face · strike again and wipe each arm to the elbows or wrists.

Water becomes available, or anything that breaks wuḍū occurs. One tayammum suffices for what one wuḍū would (Ḥanafī); the Shāfi‘īs require a fresh one for each farḍ.

Wipe over a bandage rather than removing it. If neither washing nor wiping is possible, pray as you are — the prayer is never abandoned.

Face the qiblah · intend · Allāhu akbar, hands raised · thanā’ · ta‘awwudh · al-Fātiḥah · a sūrah · rukū‘ with subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm ×3 · rise with sami‘allāhu liman ḥamidah · two prostrations with subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā ×3, sitting between them with Rabbighfir lī.

First sitting: at-Taḥiyyāt. Final sitting: at-Taḥiyyāt · Ṣalawāt Ibrāhīmiyyah · the four refuges · the du‘ā of Abū Bakr · then salām right, then left.

The seven bones touch the ground: forehead with nose, two palms, two knees, the toes of both feet. Du‘ā here is most likely to be answered.

For an omitted wājib, an addition, or genuine doubt: two extra prostrations. Ḥanafī: after the salām on the right, then tashahhud and salām again. Shāfi‘ī & Mālikī: before the salām for an omission, after for an addition.

Speaking deliberately · eating or drinking · leaving the qiblah · losing wuḍū · uncovering the ‘awrah · an extra rak‘ah knowingly · laughing aloud.

An unintended word (Ḥanafī: it does) · a light cough · killing a harmful animal · a child passing · correcting the imām · tears.

Act on certainty — the lesser number — then make sujūd as-sahw. If you are led in prayer and the imām errs, say subḥānallāh; women clap.

Dhuhr, ‘Aṣr and ‘Ishā’ become two rak‘ahs. Ḥanafī: a journey of about 48 miles / 78 km; the others: roughly two marḥalah, about 80 km. Ḥanafī: shortening is required; the others: it is a concession.

Dhuhr with ‘Aṣr, Maghrib with ‘Ishā’, permitted in travel, illness, or hardship by the Shāfi‘ī, Mālikī and Ḥanbalī schools. The Ḥanafī school permits it only at ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah.

Drop the regular Sunnah rak‘ahs of Dhuhr, Maghrib and ‘Ishā’; keep the two of Fajr and the Witr.

Pray it as soon as you remember — “there is no expiation for it but that.” Make them up in order where you can, alongside the current prayers.