I will start the first article of Fiqh by talking about Purification as it is the mean for a valid Prayer. The Prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him) said : " The key to prayer is purification". To be clean is the characteristic of a believer , we have to be hygenic all the time and before every act of worship. As every Muslim shall know , Prayer is the second pillar of Islam after the Shahada ( testimony of Faith ). Prayer (Salah) is what distinguishes Muslims from disbelievers and it is the first thing one will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement or account. Therefore , if it is correctly performed and accepted by Allah , all other's deeds will be accepted but if it is rejected , so will be one's deeds. Prayer isn't only a perfomance of gestures , but it prevents one from immorality and wrongdoing. Therefore , Salah isn't deemed valid unless one is in state of both minor and major state of ritual purity. Means of purification can be categorized in two sections: - water ( in ablution/ wudhu ) - clean earth ( tayammum/ dry ablution) in case water is unavaible. Linguistically , purity means cleanliness and purification from all matters and spiritually impurities. Jurisprudentially , it means " removal of ritual impurities as well as impure objects". The removal of ritual impurity can be achieved by using water with the intention of purification.In case of major ritual impurity , you must use water and washes your whole body but if you are on minor ritual impurity , you'll have to wash only the four parts of ablution ( i'll explain it on another article in sha Allah). The subsitute of water in wudhu is Tayammum as mentionned earlier , dry ablution by clean earth if water is unavailable or if you are not able to use water due to health reasons. I will , below , clarify how one have to generally purify oneself from both minor and major ritual impure. Allah said : " ... And We send down from the sky pure water " ( Al Furqan : 48) What is meant by "pure water" is what is originally pure and hasn't undergone any change , whether it is sent from the sky such as rain , snow, hail water , or running water such as rivers 's water , springs , wells and seas or distilled water. Therfore , if the characteristics or such water change due to an impure material , it becomes thus IMPERMISSIBLE to use it for purification ( exept if it is a slight change ) but also if one perceive a changement in odor , taste and color. If the characteritsic of the water changed due to pure object such as tree leaves, soap and so on the water is deemed pure provided that such materials isn't predominant to the resulting mixture. Regarding this matter Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah stated : " “There are many cases in which the characteristics of little or much water are affected by pure objects, such as potash, soap, lote tree leaves, dust, dough, and such things that may change water. For example, water might be put into a pot containing traces of lote tree leaves that would affect its characteristics, though the water would not be completely changed in this case. Scholars hold two well known opinions regarding such cases." He also upports the opinion maintaining that it is permissible to use such water for purification, saying " In fact, this is the sound opinion, for Allaah says…” But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women (had intercourse with them) and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it.”(Quran : Al-Maidah :6 ) “Water here is an indefinite noun in a negative phrase, which, in ‘Arabic, implies that “water” in the above mentioned verse includes every thing referred to as “water” in general, with no distinction between different kinds of water." As for the second substiture , Allah made "clean earth" the second alternative of water. Doing Tayammum is a Sunnah ( Prophetic Tradition) and also a kind of divine mercy and a way by which Allah makes easier for us. Allah said : " “O you who believe! ... If you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you has come from toilet, or you have `touched' (i.e., had intercourse with) your women and you cannot find water, then you should do Tayammum on the pure earth by wiping a part of your face and your hands.” (4:43) In Islam also known as the Religion of Purity there is two categories of purity. Physical and spiritual purity. Testimony of Faith is consided a spiritual purity as it helps us not to fall into Shirk ( polytheism) and testify the Oneness of Allah , the Greatest. Secondly , physical purity , from ritual impurities and palpable impurites as well with water as long as it is deemed pure and clean. To finish and to sum up the above text , Water can be divided into two kinds : 1- Pure Water : which can be used as a purifier , wheter it is in its original state or mixed with pure object . ( Provided is it not prevalent enough to change the composition of water or turn it into another object. 2- Impure water : which cannot be used as a purifier from both ritual or tangible impurity. It is also the water of whose characteristics ( odor , taste , color) has changed due to an impure object. In the next article i'll be talking about things ritual impurity prohibits doing , stay tuned !
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To commence , understanding the Religion is considered one of the best deeds BUT also an obligation upon every single Muslim , male or female.
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AuteurAs salam aleykum dear visitors ! Archives
October 2016
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