There are many non-Muslims studying Islam and wanting to practice some of the actions involved in the religion such as prayer and fasting. The first thing one must learn before getting to these actions is Ghusl and Wudu’ (ablution). These two forms of purity are what will define your actions in Islam; without it, one cannot grasp the benefit involved in these deeds.
Wudu’
This is to be performed before every prayer. It goes as follows:
Say ‘bismillah’ and make the intention for ablution.
Wash hands.
Rinse mouth.
Rinse nose.
Wash the face.
Wash right arm up to the elbow.
Wash left arm up to the elbow.
Wipe the head going from the front to the back then to the front again; then with the same water wipe the inside and outside of the ears.
Wash right foot up to the ankles.
Wash left foot up to the ankles.
These have to be done in order and every action can be done once, twice or three times, but the recommended is three times as it is the way of the prophets Muhammad (ﷺ) and Ibrahim (عليه السلام).
Ghusl
This is the first thing one should be taught in Islam. It is a way of cleansing one’s soul in preparation for the actions to be done such as prayer and fasting – it is a full body purification.
The main steps taken with this are as follows:
Say ‘bismillah’ (“in the name of Allah”) and make the intention for Ghusl.
Wash the private parts with the left hand.
Perform Wudu’ (mentioned above).
Wash the right side of the body starting from the right shoulder.
Wash the left side of the body starting with the left shoulder.
Finish off by pouring water over the head and body making sure every inch is wet.
This is the method following the Sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ). The minimum requirement for Ghusl is:
Say ‘bismillah’ and make the intention for Ghusl.
Rinse mouth and nose.
Wash entire body making sure every inch is wet.
However, one must understand that Islamic actions such as prayer, fasting and performing “Thikr” (remembrance such as ‘alhamdullilah’) are all done with faith. One can still practice fasting, learn to pray and learn pronunciations of certain Arabic phrases but these actions are only with true benefit when done with belief in Allah; without it, they are merely practical. Nevertheless, they can be as a good form of education.
The most beneficial thing for someone looking into Islam is to study why Muslims carry out these actions. Why we pray, fast and perform other rituals. Understand why certain things are compulsory in Islam and why others are optional. Explore the meanings behind “alhamdullilah”, “insha’Allah” and Allah’s true message to mankind in the Qur’an. This is what will open up the heart and give one a real insight into the religion.
Let us all remember, He the almighty is closer to all mankind than we realise – Muslims and non-Muslims. Islam is for the whole world; Allah addresses mankind as a whole many times in the Qur’an. He says:
“And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” 50:16
This is a very common question in our day and age especially amongst the youth. It is a question atheists usually pose or even people in our Ummah struggle with imane because of it.
Let us first explain the Qadar (the fact that everything is decreed) of Allah. The belief in Qadar is broken up into 4 things:
Allah knows all things – what we deem to be the past, present and future – from eternity to eternity whether this is with His own actions or the action of His slaves.
Allah has written that decree in al-Lawh al-Mahfoth (the Book of Decrees). Allah says in the Qu’ran:
“Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record [al-Lawh al-Mahfoth]. Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” 22:70
The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water.” [Muslim]
He (ﷺ) also said: “The first thing that Allah created was the Pen, and He said to it, ‘Write!’ It said, ‘O Lord, what should I write?’ He said: ‘Write down the decrees of all things until the Hour begins.” [Abi Dawood authenticated by al-Albaani]
Whatever happens only happens by the will of Allah – whether that has to do with His actions or the actions of His creations. Allah says in the Qur’an
“And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him.” 28:68
“He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He wills” 3:6
All things that happen are created by Allah in their essence, their attributes and their movements. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.” 39:62
“He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.” 25:2
Now if we take these attributes, we can ask how can this be reconciled with free will?
In order to answers this question we must first ask what is it that Allah will not do? The things that will stop Him from being Allah – this means that if He were to stop carrying out any of the attributes He associated within His own essence (the creator, all-knowing, all-wise – all the names of Allah) then He will no longer be God. Therefore, the things that cannot change are the things that define His essential attributes.
We can now ask can Allah create a scenario whereby His creation (human beings, jinn etc.) has its free will and Allah is doing it at the same time?
The answer is yes, He can.
“And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things capable.” 3:189
Allah can have His decree in the book while we have our free will. How He does this, the metaphysics of how it can happen is beyond our limited thinking. It is similar to asking how can one have anything we want in jannah such as flying – the physics outside of our world (al-ghayb) is not the same. Time and space does not function the same. Allah limited this within our universe in regards to our life form; the outside has been covered from our senses (“saytara” – which means cover).
We as human beings cannot even fathom our own physical world. With all the technology we have, we barely even scratched the surface of what is going on around us, things we can see. So how is it that we expect to understand how Allah functions the unseen?
The good that comes from not knowing all of this is the optimism of the believer. The prophet said: “Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he is thankful and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and he is thankful, thus there is good for him.” [Islam]
We as human beings cannot control all the variables of life. The fact is that we die, people pass away around us, the worst of the worst things can happen to anyone. However, this concept of Qadar in Islam – the fact that everything is decreed, written by the creator – gives us incredible freedom and liberation. It allows us to go into the world which is swaying us around with variables out of our control and saying: whatever happens is good for us.
This is something a disbeliever can never even dream to obtain psychologically. If something bad happens they simply claim it is just jumbled atoms, we simply exist; there is no spiritual value at all. This is why there will always be a void in our hearts without belief in Allah. The only way to to release the chains of emptiness is to embrace Islam. Nothing will fill the heart with satisfaction except for the remembrance of Allah.
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” 13:28
“The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him.
It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month.
Whoever holds back his anger, Allah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing.
Whoever walks with his Muslim brother in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.” [Tabarani, authenticated by al-Albaani]
Prayer is undoubtedly the most important aspect of Islam after taking the shahada. It is what separates a believer from a non-believer and it is the first thing that is questioned on the day of judgement.
The prophet (ﷺ) said: “The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.” [Al-Tabarani, authentic according to al-Albaani]
The prophet (ﷺ) also said: “Between faith and unbelief is abandoning the prayer.” [Muslim]
Therefore salah is not to be taken lightly; it comes with guidelines which are our responsibility to perform correctly. We should already know the basics pertaining to salah but there are a few issues to mention regarding this matter.
First of all we must understand that salah is not a chore that must be done as quickly as possible in order to get back to our lives. We must plan our lives around the 5 daily prayers and not our salah around our lives. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.” 2:238
Many of us do not take salah for what it is – a blessing and a great responsibility. Allah directly informs us to maintain our prayers; he did not just tell us to pray. We see people rushing their get the salah done as quickly as possible as if it is getting in the way. We must take care in standing before the almighty and it starts with ablution; the prophet (ﷺ) said: “The key to Paradise is Salat, and the key to Salat is Wudu’.” [Tirmidhi]
We must ensure each part of the wudu’ is performed correctly; all areas that are washed must be touched with water accordingly; the wudu’ will define our salah. A narration of the prophet (ﷺ) highlights this point: “The Messenger of Allah saw a man performing ablution and he missed a spot the size of a fingernail on his foot. He commanded him to repeat the ablution and his prayer, so he did.” [Ibn Majah]
A very important aspect is covering the awrah during prayer. For women that is the whole body except for the face, hands and below the ankles. For men it is between the navel and bottom of the knees (and what is parallel to this i.e. the lower back and sides); most scholars also recommend that the shoulders be covered.
The issue of the awrah during prayer for men is widespread. We see many people praying with shirts that move up during ruku’ or sujud exposing the lower back – scholars mention that this invalidates the prayer unless it was done accidentally and then immediately covered.
Here are some other basic mistakes we make:
These are basic, core issues we must take heed of with our daily prayers – let us fix these mistakes to get the reward we need from salah.
The prophet (ﷺ) said: “When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, then look to those who have been given less.” [Muslim]
Let us remember that Allah provided everyone differently. Some are given more than others but this is not what matters to Allah and thus should not matter to us. What you have and do not have is a test; Allah only looks at our piety and consciousness of Him.
“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” 49:13
All prophets of Allah were sent with signs for their specific people in their times. The Qur’an was sent as the final miracle with the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It is a miracle due to various unique features but in this post we will concentrate on some of the scientific facts in it.
Let us first understand that the Qur’an was revealed through an illiterate prophet and its initial form was spoken through him, Muhammad (ﷺ), only later to be compiled into book form. This was all done over 1400 years ago when science was merely what they can see with their eyes. There was no technology, research equipment; not even electricity – let us bare that in mind as we proceed.
Universe
Items in the modern time such as phones, computers etc. were all put together in an organised fashion thus they all had an organiser. Is it not rational to say that the universe with all its complexity also had an organiser? As mentioned in a previous post, every single matter in the universe is perfectly balanced, finely tuned. The world around us is proof in itself.
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?” 41:53
Origin of life
With the invention of the microscope, scientists found that all life consists mostly of water; this was mentioned in the Qur’an.
“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” 21:30
Embryology
“And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.” 23:12-14
Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore (one of the most prominent scientists in the field of anatomy and embryology) quoted: “It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later.”
Sky’s protection
The sky acts as a protection from the lethality of the sun’s rays and also as a blanket for warmth. Outside the earth’s atmosphere the temperature is approximately -270°C which will instantly freeze the surface of the earth wiping out all of life.
“And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.” 21:32
Iron
Scientists have only recently discovered (past century or so) that the metal Iron was not formed on earth but came down from outer space from meteorites. This phenomenon is mentioned by its creator in the Qur’an.
“We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” 57:25
Seas and Oceans
Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density.
“He released the two seas, meeting [side by side];
Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.” 55:19-20
It is commonly thought that waves only occur on the surface of the ocean. However, oceanographers have discovered that there are internal waves that take place below the surface of the ocean. These waves are invisible to the human eye, and can only be detected by specialist equipment.
“Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds – darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light – for him there is no light.” 24:40
Sun’s orbit
It was a wide spread belief that the Sun is stationary until the 20th century when scientists discovered that it is in fact in orbit around the centre of our galaxy.
“And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all in an orbit are swimming.” 21:33
Mountains
Geophysicists in modern times have discovered that mountains are like stakes (pointed at the surface, deeper in the ground) and are buried deep under the earth’s surface. Mount Everest, the height of which is approximately 9km has a root under ground deeper than 125km.
“Have We not made the earth a resting place?
And the mountains as stakes?” 78:6-7
Expanding universe
The fact that the universe is continuously expanding was only discovered in the last century. Stephen Hawking the physicist mentioned in his book ‘A Brief History of Time’: “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century” – yet this was already mentioned in the Qur’an 1400 years ago.
“And the heaven [universe] We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.” 51:47
Skin pain receptors
For a long time it was thought that pain is merely in the brain – that there was no other factor involved except for certain functions in the brain. However, it was found that there are pain receptors in the skin; without these receptors one will not feel any pain.
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” 4:56
Lying
“Does he not know that Allah sees?
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock –
