Difficulties in Ablution
Question
Title: Difficulties in Ablution Question: There are many times in one's daily life when one is working at a place where there is either no water or the water is not useable (as thought by oneself) for the purposes of ablution. What should one do in such circumstances? Another related problem is that when one is wearing normally used leather footwear, which is spoiled by water and one does not have slippers, should one omit the washing of feet part of ablution? Please reply as soon as possible as this is a very common problem with me and it sometimes leads to the omission of prayers. Answer: The Qur'an has clearly allowed us to resort to Tayammum [1] , in place of wudhu , under three situations: Firstly, when a person is unwell, due to which applying water on the body could be harmful in any way; secondly, when a person is on a journey and the comforts of living in one's own home are not available; and thirdly, when clean water is difficult to access. In all these three situations, the Qur'an allows tayammum , in place of wudhu . The Prophet (pbuh) has allowed us to resort to Masah [2] on socks or stockings, in place of washing our feet, if we wear socks or stockings while in a state of ablution. Thus, if it is difficult for you to take of your shoes and socks for ablution, you may take advantage of the allowance given by the Prophet (pbuh) and just rub your feet with slightly wet hands. This allowance, however, can only be benefited from if you have worn your socks or stockings while in a state of ablution. 29 th July 1998 [1] Tayammum is a symbolic representation of wudhu . For the allowance and method of Tayammum refer to Al-Maaidah 5: 6. [2] Masah is a symbolic representation of washing our feet during ablution. If a person has worn his socks or stockings, while in a state of ablution, he may then resort to Masah , in place of washing his feet for all the prayers of the day, if he does not take off his socks or stockings. Masah (literally meaning 'to rub') over the feet simply implies rubbing, with slightly wet hands, the top of the feet from over the socks or stockings.
Answer
Title: Difficulties in Ablution Question: There are many times in one's daily life when one is working at a place where there is either no water or the water is not useable (as thought by oneself) for the purposes of ablution. What should one do in such circumstances? Another related problem is that when one is wearing normally used leather footwear, which is spoiled by water and one does not have slippers, should one omit the washing of feet part of ablution? Please reply as soon as possible as this is a very common problem with me and it sometimes leads to the omission of prayers. Answer: The Qur'an has clearly allowed us to resort to Tayammum [1] , in place of wudhu , under three situations: Firstly, when a person is unwell, due to which applying water on the body could be harmful in any way; secondly, when a person is on a journey and the comforts of living in one's own home are not available; and thirdly, when clean water is difficult to access. In all these three situations, the Qur'an allows tayammum , in place of wudhu . The Prophet (pbuh) has allowed us to resort to Masah [2] on socks or stockings, in place of washing our feet, if we wear socks or stockings while in a state of ablution. Thus, if it is difficult for you to take of your shoes and socks for ablution, you may take advantage of the allowance given by the Prophet (pbuh) and just rub your feet with slightly wet hands. This allowance, however, can only be benefited from if you have worn your socks or stockings while in a state of ablution. 29 th July 1998 [1] Tayammum is a symbolic representation of wudhu . For the allowance and method of Tayammum refer to Al-Maaidah 5: 6. [2] Masah is a symbolic representation of washing our feet during ablution. If a person has worn his socks or stockings, while in a state of ablution, he may then resort to Masah , in place of washing his feet for all the prayers of the day, if he does not take off his socks or stockings. Masah (literally meaning 'to rub') over the feet simply implies rubbing, with slightly wet hands, the top of the feet from over the socks or stockings.
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