Deenelio Quiz — The Rules of Purification and Prayer

Key concepts

Purification, certainty and available means

Established wudu is not lost through mere doubt. When water cannot be found, the Quran provides tayammum as a means of purification. In wudu the face and arms are washed and the head is wiped. One complete washing suffices for each part that must be washed. The Prophet also instructed three hand washes before placing a hand in a vessel after sleep. These teachings combine care with avoiding unnecessary repetition.
Illness and travel

Someone unable to stand prays sitting; if unable to sit, they pray on their side. A four-rakah obligatory prayer is reduced to two when shortened during travel. During the Tabuk journey, the Prophet combined Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha.
Missed prayers and forgetfulness

A forgotten prayer is performed when remembered, and a prayer missed through sleep is performed on waking. When the Prophet rose after two rakahs without the middle sitting, he performed two prostrations before the final greeting. On another occasion, after ending a four-rakah prayer after only two rakahs, he completed the remaining rakahs and performed prostrations for forgetfulness.
Cleanliness during prayer

In the report about a milk-fed infant boy, the Prophet sprinkled water over the urine on his garment. When informed that his sandals carried filth, he removed them while praying. These particular reports show how a concrete impurity was treated without turning the incident into an unnecessary abandonment of worship.
Following the congregation

Late arrivals should approach prayer calmly, join what they reach and complete what they miss. Followers bow after the imam rather than preceding him. Congregational prayer is more rewarding than praying alone. The emphasis is on ordered participation, dignity and attention to the imam.

The Rules of Purification and Prayer

Key concepts

Further reading and resources