How to Perform Ablution (Shia)

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posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Ablution, or wudu, is a means of purifying yourself to prepare for prayer or worship.[1]
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Without ablution, you cannot read the Qur'an, pray, or make tawaf. This article will teach you how to perform ablution according to the Shia denomination.

Steps

Wash Your Face

Remove anything from the face or hands that may prevent water from reaching the skin. This includes items such as a watch/ring or those such as paint or anything which would act as a barrier over the skin.

Take a handful of water in the right hand and pour this water over the face from the top (just above the forehead).

Using the right hand, wipe the face from the tip of where your hair-line is to the bottom of your chin. The water should reach all parts from the hairline to chin, and the entire horizontal plane of the face within the reach of the span of the hand from the middle finger to the thumb. To ensure that the complete surface of your face has been washed, include a bit of the inner parts of your nose, lips, and eyes in the washing. You do not, however, need to wash the complete inner portion of these parts.

Washing your face once as described above is obligatory. A second such washing is recommended while subsequent washings are prohibited.

Wash Your Arms

Using the left hand, pour water over the right arm from the elbow to the finger-tips. The washing must be done from the elbows to the fingertips and not vice versa. Pour water from a little above the elbow to ensure that the whole forearm is covered. Wash in such a way that the water penetrates the hair, if any, and reaches the skin.

With the same hand, wipe the water over both sides of the arm to ensure that all parts are washed.

Repeat for the left arm using the right hand.

Washing your arms once as described is obligatory. A second such washing is recommended while subsequent washings are prohibited.

Wipe Your Feet

Wipe your feet with the moisture that is still on your hands.

Wipe starting from the tip of any toe up till the ankle joint. Wipe your right foot with your right hand, and your left foot with your left hand. It is better to wipe at least the width of three joined fingers (the middle finger, index finger and ring finger), and better yet to wipe your entire foot with your entire hand. At the time of wiping the foot, actually pull the hand from toes to the ankle joint (as described above) along the length of the toe-tips till the ankles. Do not just place your whole hand on your foot and pull up a little. Please note that wiping of the feet performed on socks or shoes is not valid except in unusual circumstances.