One of the rituals you will probably do the most often is Al-Wudu’.  Although wudu’ does clean the outer body, its main goal is keeping the inner, subtle bodies clean.  This ritual provides both the inner and outer cleansing that is necessary to stand in the Presence of the Divine.  Wudu’ is a state of purity and a way to prepare to do spiritual practices.  It is required to be in wudu’ before making salat. it is recommended to be in a state of wudu’ before doing dhikr, the wird, or working with the Qualities.   It is best to stay in wudu throughout the day and to perform wudu as soon as you arise in the morning after sleeping.  Sidi says that water is the love.  What better to wash with than love?

Other times you might want to perform wudu’ is when you are angry or upset.  It can “wash” away the negative emotions.  Do wudu’ before doing personal prayers outside of salat.  It creates light upon light.  This is a very holy practice and is a form of worship all in itself.  I once asked one of my teachers if there was any point in doing wudu’ while I was menstruating.  Doing it then helps keep you in practice of doing wudu’ regularly and you are still performing an act of worship even if you do break wudu’ immediately.

Al – Wudu’

1. Set your intention: Say: “Nawatu al wudu’ lis’salat lilahi ta’ala.  Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.”  (I intend to do wudu’ for prayer for Allah.  In the Name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate.)
2. Wash each of your hands up to the wrists 3 times
3. Rinse your mouth 3 times. If possible brush your teeth.
4. Rinse your nose 3 times
5. Wash your face from the forehead to the chin and from ear to ear 3 times
6. Wash right arm to the elbow 3 times
7. Wash left arm to the elbow 3 times
8. Wash your head by running your right hand or both hands lightly over the top of the head to the nape of the neck and then back from the nape of the neck to the forehead.
9. Wash both ears at the same time by starting at the top of the ear on the outside, washing down to the lobe.  Wash the left ear with the left hand and the right ear with the right hand, washing both ears at the same time.  use the index fingers to wash inside the ears and the thumbs to clean the back of the ears.
10. Wash your feet …  right foot first up to the ankle with the right hand 3 times and then the left foot to the ankle with the right hand 3 times  Slippers can be worn to keep the feet clean afterwards.
11. Raise your right index finger to indicate testifying to the One and say: “Ash’hadu an la illaha il-allah wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasulallah.”  (I believe there is no God but God and I believe that Muhammad is the messenger of God.)

Things that break wudu’, meaning that you need to go and perform wudu’ again to stay energetically pure, are:

1. Breaking wind, passing urine or stools, and emitting semen.
2. Losing conscious awareness through sleeping, intoxication, or insanity.
3. Touching one’s private parts or having sexual intercourse.
4. Touching a dead body.
5. Bleeding including menstruation and post natal bleeding

Tayammum Dry Wudu’

It is possible to do a form of wudu’ even if no water is available.  This is called tayammum (dry wudu’).  It should only be done if no water is available or if using the water available will cause a shortage of drinking water.   The step to perform tayammum are:

1. Set your intention: Say: “Nawatu at tayammum lis’salat lilahi ta’ala.  Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.”  (I intend to do tayammum for prayer for Allah.  In the Name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate.)
2. Strike both hands on the ground (or something that contains dust or dirt).
3. Shake hands to remove excess dirt or dust and then wipe the face with both hands.
4. Strike the hands on the ground again and wipe the right arm to the elbow and then the left arm to the elbow.

You are now ready to do salat.  Anything that nullifies wudu’, nullifies tayammum.

Ghusl

The next form of ritual cleansing is called Ghusl.  The whole body is cleaned  as in a bath or shower.  It can also be done by pouring water over the head three times, running the fingers though the hair, and then pouring water over the right side three times and over the left side three times. You just need to state your intention of doing Ghusl as you begin your bath or shower.  Ghusl is required before performing salat for the following conditions:

1. Having sexual intercourse or having seminal emissions.
2. At the end of a menstrual period.
3. At the end of postpartum bleeding.

Ghusl is required before making salah, reading the Qur’an, or performing any ritual act.  It is also sunnah for attending the Friday salah and on the two ‘Eids.