New Muslims Corner

Someone asked Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh al-’Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah): What is your advice for an individual who has just begun to practice Islam?

Answer by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh al-’Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah): My advice to this new practicing individual is:

1- He should constantly ask Allaah to make him firm.

2 – He should increase in recitation of The Qur`an with contemplation. This is because recitation has a major (positive) effect on the heart, especially when coupled with contemplation and reflection.

3 – He should be diligent in being obedient to Allaah, and he should not become bored or lazy. This is because The Messenger (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sought refuge from inability and laziness.

4 – He should be diligent in befriending good companions, and distance himself from evil companions.

5 – He should also advise himself when he finds himself thinking: Time is extremely lengthy and the path is too long! At this point, he should advise himself and remain firm. This is because Jannah (paradise) is surrounded with trials and difficulties, while the The Hell-fire is surrounded with desires.

6 – He should distance himself from bad companions even if they (those companions) are individuals he knew in the past. This is due to the fact that evil/bad companions influence an individual. Because of this, the Messenger (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: The example of a bad companion is the example of a black smith; either he burns your clothing, or you experience from him a disgusting odor. (Bukhari: 5534, Muslim: 2628)

Source: Liqaa al Bab al Meftu 3/530, via http://salafee.multiply.com/

How to perform Ghusul(Islaamic form of washing for the following reasons: New Muslim, After Sexual Intercourse, Washing the dead, Hajj & Umrah, Jumua’h, and the Two Eid)

Ghusul is of two kinds: Complete Ghusul and Sufficient Ghusul.

The Complete Ghusul: the person should have the intention (for Ghusul) and say Bismillaah and then he washes his hands three times, and washes the [private parts and removes any filth on his body], then he performs ablution like the one made for the prayer, then he rubs water through his head three times letting the water reach the roots of his hair, then he pours water over the entire body three times, beginning with the right side of the body and then the left part, and he rubbing his body with his hands while making sure that the water reaches all his body and hair. The evidence for this is that ‘Aa’ishah narrated that when the Prophet would perform Ghusul after sexual intercourse, he would start by washing his hands, then he would pour water with his right hand into his left hand and wash his private parts, then he would perform ablution in the same manner that he would perform ablution for the prayer, and then he would take some water and put his fingers to the roots of his hair until he believes that the skin is wet, then he would take a scoop of water with both hands and pour it over his head, and he would do this three times, and then pour water over the rest of his body and finally he would wash his feet.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. Another narration reads: ‘‘He used to rub his head with his hands until he was certain the water reached his skin, then he poured water over it [hair] three times.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The second evidence is that Maymoonah narrated: ‘‘I put water out for the Prophet so that he would perform Ghusul. So, he poured water on his hands and washed them two times or three times, then he poured water from his right hand into his left hand and washed his private parts, then he wiped his hands on the earth, then he rinsed his mouth and nose, then he washed his face and hands, then he washed his head three times and then he poured water over his body, and then he moved from his place and washed his feet.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Sufficient Ghusul: It is to remove the impurity from one’s body, then one intends (Ghusul) and says ‘Bismillaah’ and then washes his entire body including his mouth and nose, and his hair (from root to tip).

Ghusul is either obligatory or desirable:

There are six acts which make Ghusul obligatory:

1- Discharge of Manee (sperm) due to sexual desire when a person is awake, or if the person is asleep, then this is known as having a wet dream [and it is not a condition to have a sexual desire].

2- When the glens of the penis enter the vagina, this is known by touching the two circumcised parts. The Prophet, said: “When any one sits between the four parts of her (his wife’s) body and exerts her (has intercourse with her), then performing Ghusul becomes obligatory (for both),” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] and there is an addition in some other narrations ‘‘even if he had no ejaculation’’ [Ahmad and Muslim] .

3- When a non-Muslim embraces Islam.

4- After monthly menstruation stops.

5- After post-partum bleeding stops.

6- Death: (when a Muslim dies) with the exception of the martyr and the one who was killed unjustly. Both do not need to be washed.

The desirable Ghusul are so many, among which are the following;

1- Friday Ghusul. Some Scholars are even of the view that it is an obligatory bath. In any case, it is better to keep performing it.

2- Making Ghusul before entering in the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah.

3- Performing Ghusul before ‘Eid prayers.

4- Making Ghusul after having washed a dead Muslim.

There are other kinds of Ghusul.

Allah Knows best.

Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

The Wudhu’ for Salaat

Steps of Wudhu’ (Ablution)

1-Intention: The intention is in the heart. Uttering the intention is an innovation (bid’ah).

2-Recitation of the Basmallah (Say: Bismillaah upon commencing the wudhu‘)

3-Washing the hands three times:

4-Al-Madhmadhah (Gargling: washing the mouth and moving the water around within in it) and Sniffing at the same time with a handful of water, three times.

Taking water into the nose and breathing it into its backmost part (arrow up) (Istinshaaq), and then expelling it (Istinthaar)

5-Washing the face three times:

Limits of the face (font and side ways)

Takhleelul-lihyah

(Running water through the beard

with the fingers is from the Sunnah)

6-Washing the arms up to the elbow (i.e. including the elbow), three times, starting with the right.

7-Wiping the head and ears:

Wiping the head with wet hands moving them forwards and backwards-beginning with the front of the head and wiping with them up to the nape then returning them to the original place of the front, then wiping inside the ears with forefingers and their backs with the thumbs

8-Washing the feet and the ankles, three times, starting with the right foot:

Washing the feet and ankles (left) and wiping between the fingers and/or toes (Takhleelul As-Saabi’)

9-Reciting the Shahaadah (Testimony of Faith) upon completion of Wudhu’

Ash-hadu an la illaaha illallaah wa ash-hadu anna

Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluh.

I testify that there is no true god worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His salve and Messenger.

10-The Wudhu’ should follow the order described above.

11-Washing each part directly after the previous one leaving no time gap in between that may render the previous part dry.

12-Menses or Sexual Defilement (Janaabah) require full Ghusul (Bath).

Invalidators of Wudhu’

1-That which comes out from the two private parts (responding to the call of nature or passing wind).

2-Sound sleep, insanity, unconsciousness, or intoxication.

3-Touching the uncovered private parts (i.e. skin to skin). {Scholars differ in this matter, whatever opinion you deem to be correct, and then follow it}

4-Sexual activity leading to emission of prostatic fluid or semen.

5-Eating camel’s meat

6-Apostasy.

It is not a condition for the Muslim who invalidates his wudhu’ to wash the private parts unless it is invalidated due to urination, defecation, or prostatic fluid (requires washing of testicles, and penis)