Islamic Ablution Rules

• The Messenger of God and the Imams have related that it is permissible to wash the hands before and after a meal.
• This is for cleanliness and purification and it is not to be understood that prayers cannot lawfully be performed without it, as in the case of someone to whom ritual impurity has occurred.
• Eating and drinking what is lawful is by consensus a pure act, and touching a pure thing, and eating or drinking of it, does not render the ablution void.
• Similarly the Imams were of the opinion that the paring of nails, trimming the beard, or shaving the head do not necessitate the renewal of ablution.
• But it is proper to wash and cleanse the parts with water in all such cases.
• A man, who is certain that he has performed his ablution, but has a doubt whether his ablution is still valid, is entitled to act on his certainty. A mere doubt does not render the ablution void, unless the man is certain that his ablution has been rendered invalid, in which case he should perform it afresh.
• But when he is certain that he has invalidated his ablution but is doubtful whether he has renewed it, it is not permissible for him to pray.

Test your knowledge of Islamic ablution rules and purification guidelines based on the teachings of the Messenger of God and the Imams. Explore the permissible acts before and after a meal, and understand the circumstances that necessitate the renewal of ablution.