Title: What is Rak`ah & Wudhu Question: What can you tell me about " Rak`ah " and " Wudhu "? Thanks Answer: ' Rak`ah ' or ' Rak`at ' is a basic unit of the Muslim prayers. Every prayer is divided into ' Rak`ats '. The Fajr (morning) prayer has two rak`ats , the Zuhr (Afternoon), Asr (Evening) and Ishaa (Night) prayers have four rak`ats each and the Maghrib (offered after sunset) prayer has three rak`ats . The first rak`at starts with the opening of the prayer and ends at the sajdah (prostration). Likewise, the second rak`at starts when the person stands up from the sajdah (prostration). According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), in the obligatory prayers, there is a small rest in the sitting posture, marking the end of two rak`ats . " Wudhu " or " Wuzu ", generally translated as 'ablution', is a preparation for prayers. If a person is not already in a state of ' Wudhu ' he shall then perform ' wudhu ' in the following manner: Carefully wash his hands; Rinse and clean his mouth; Rinse and clean his nose; Wash his face; Wash his arms up to the elbows; Lightly brush his hair and ears with his wet hands; and Wash his feet up to the ankles. The example set by the Prophet (pbuh) of performing wudhu in the best of manners is to wash each part three times, so that it is adequately washed. After the performance of Wudhu , as explained above, a person shall remain in a state of ablution till he: passes wind; urinates; defecates; has a sexual intercourse or orgasm; in case of a woman, enters her menstrual cycle or enters a period of puerperal hemorrhage. In the first three cases, a person may offer his/her prayers after performing a new ' wudhu ', while in the fourth case, the person would have to take a bath before offering his/her prayers and in the fifth case, the woman will have to wait till the end of her menstrual cycle or the period of puerperal hemorrhage and then take a bath, before she offers her prayers. 10 th June 2000