This chapter deals with those things which render necessary wudu’ and ghusl.
Wudu’ designates the action and wadu’ designates the water. Lingusistically it means cleaniness and excellence, and in the Shari’a it means to purify certain parts of the body with water to make them clean and to remove the judgement of ‘minor impurity” (hadath) from them to permit acts of worship which are forbidden by lack of purity.
Qadi Ibn al-‘Arabi says that there is known dispute about whether ghasl means the action and ghusl the water. However, in adh-Dhakira, ghusl designates the action and ghasl the water. This is the most common position.
The obligation of Wudu’ and Ghusl
[Evidence for the obligatory nature of wudu’ and ghusl is found in the Qur’an and Sunna and consensus. The Almighty says, “O you who believe! When you you get up intending to do the prayer, wash your facesÉ ” (5:6) and “Do not approach the prayer when you are drunk until you know what you are saying, nor in a state of major impurity –
unless you are travelling – until you have washed yourselves completely.” (4:43) The Messenger of Allah said, “Allah does not accept the prayer of anyone in a state of impurity until he does wudu’.” There is no disagreement between the Imams that it is obligatory.
