Fiqh for Beginners

Wudu is needed for prayer, for circling the Ka'bah (tawaf), and — according to most scholars — for touching the mushaf. Use clean water.

• 1. Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for Allah, and say “Bismillah”.
• 2. Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.
• 3. Rinse the mouth and sniff water into the nose and blow it out, three times.
• 4. Wash the whole face three times — from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
• 5. Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left arm.
• 6. Wipe over the head once with wet hands, front to back and back to front, then wipe the ears.
• 7. Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left foot, making sure water reaches between the toes.
• 8. Afterwards it is sunnah to say the testimony: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.”

The obligatory parts named in the Quran are washing the face, the arms to the elbows, wiping the head and washing the feet to the ankles. Washing each part once is enough; three times is sunnah.

Where the schools differ:

• Intention is obligatory for the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools; sunnah for the Hanafis.
• Washing in order is obligatory for the Shafi'is and Hanbalis; doing it without long breaks is obligatory for the Malikis and Hanbalis.
• How much of the head to wipe: the whole head (Maliki, Hanbali), a quarter (Hanafi), or any part (Shafi'i).
• The Hanbalis count rinsing the mouth and nose as obligatory.

Agreed by all scholars:

• Anything that comes out of the private parts: urine, stool, wind, and other discharges (such as madhy).
• Deep sleep in which a person loses awareness (light dozing while sitting firmly does not break it according to most scholars).
• Losing consciousness: fainting, intoxication, anaesthesia.
• Anything that requires ghusl (see the next lesson).

Where the schools differ:

• Touching the private part directly with the hand: breaks wudu for the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, and for the Malikis with conditions; not for the Hanafis.
• Skin contact between a man and a woman: breaks it for the Shafi'is (when they are not mahram); for the Malikis and Hanbalis only when there is desire; not for the Hanafis.
• Heavy bleeding or a mouthful of vomit: breaks it for the Hanafis and Hanbalis; not for the Malikis and Shafi'is.
• Eating camel meat: breaks it for the Hanbalis, based on a hadith in Sahih Muslim; not for the other three schools.

Certainty is not removed by doubt: if you are sure you made wudu and only doubt whether you broke it, your wudu remains.

Ghusl becomes obligatory after:

• Sexual intercourse, even without ejaculation.
• Ejaculation of semen, whether awake or in a wet dream.
• The end of menstruation (hayd) and of post-natal bleeding (nifas).
• Death (the living wash the deceased Muslim).
• Accepting Islam: obligatory for the Malikis and Hanbalis, recommended for the Hanafis and Shafi'is.

The minimum valid ghusl: intention, then making water reach the whole body, including the hair and skin. The Hanafis also require rinsing the mouth and nose, and the Malikis require rubbing the body.

The complete sunnah method:

• 1. Make the intention and say “Bismillah”.
• 2. Wash the hands, then wash the private parts and remove any impurity.
• 3. Perform wudu as for prayer (the feet may be left until the end).
• 4. Pour water over the head three times, making it reach the roots of the hair.
• 5. Pour water over the whole body, starting with the right side, then the left.
• 6. Wash the feet if you left them.

A woman in her period or post-natal bleeding does not pray or fast. She makes up the missed fasts later, but not the missed prayers. A complete ghusl also counts as wudu for most scholars.

Tayammum is a mercy from Allah. It replaces wudu or ghusl when:

• No water can be found, or only enough for drinking.
• Using water would cause illness or harm, or delay recovery.

How to do it:

• 1. Make the intention.
• 2. Say “Bismillah” and strike clean earth (soil, sand or dust) lightly with both palms.
• 3. Blow off or shake off the excess.
• 4. Wipe the face with the palms.
• 5. Wipe the back of each hand with the other palm.

Where the schools differ: the Hanbalis (and the Malikis for what is obligatory) teach one strike for the face and hands up to the wrists, as in the hadith of Ammar. The Hanafis and Shafi'is teach two strikes — one for the face and one for the arms up to the elbows.

Tayammum is broken by whatever breaks wudu, and also by finding water that can be used.

Every Muslim who has reached puberty and is of sound mind must pray five times a day:

• Fajr (dawn): 2 rak'ahs. From true dawn until sunrise.
• Dhuhr (midday): 4 rak'ahs. From just after the sun passes its highest point until the shadow of an object equals its length (for most scholars; twice its length for Abu Hanifa).
• Asr (afternoon): 4 rak'ahs. From the end of Dhuhr until sunset — but it should not be delayed until the sun turns yellow without a reason.
• Maghrib (sunset): 3 rak'ahs. From sunset until the red glow of twilight disappears.
• Isha (night): 4 rak'ahs. From the end of Maghrib; it is best prayed before the middle of the night, and in case of need it remains valid until dawn according to most scholars.

In practice, use a reliable local timetable or a prayer-times app.

Before praying, make sure of the conditions of prayer:

• Being in wudu, with a clean body, clothes and place.
• Covering the 'awrah: for men at least from the navel to the knees; for women the whole body except the face and hands (the Hanafis also exclude the feet).
• Facing the qiblah (the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah).
• The prayer's time having begun, and having the intention for that prayer.

• 1. Stand facing the qiblah and intend in your heart which prayer you are praying.
• 2. Raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). This begins the prayer.
• 3. Place the right hand over the left on the chest or below it (the Malikis usually let the arms hang at the sides; all are valid). You may say an opening du'a such as “Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk” (Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You).
• 4. Say “A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim” (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil), then recite Al-Fatiha, then say “Amin”.
• 5. Recite any other short surah or some verses, such as Al-Ikhlas.
• 6. Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow (ruku'), back straight and hands on the knees. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal-'Adhim” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) three times.
• 7. Rise saying “Sami'allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears the one who praises Him), and when upright say “Rabbana wa lakal-hamd” (Our Lord, to You belongs all praise).
• 8. Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate (sujud) on the forehead and nose, both palms, both knees and the toes. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
• 9. Say “Allahu Akbar” and sit up. Say “Rabbighfir li” (My Lord, forgive me).
• 10. Say “Allahu Akbar” and make a second prostration as before. This completes the first rak'ah.
• 11. Stand up saying “Allahu Akbar” and repeat steps 4–10 for the second rak'ah.
• 12. Sit and recite the tashahhud: “At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.” (All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.)
• 13. Then send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ: “Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid.”
• 14. Turn the head to the right saying “As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah” (Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you), then to the left saying the same. The prayer is complete.

For 3- and 4-rak'ah prayers: after the tashahhud of the second rak'ah, stand up for the remaining rak'ahs, recite only Al-Fatiha in them, and finish with the full tashahhud and salam at the end.

Reciting Al-Fatiha in every rak'ah is required by all schools (the Hanafis treat it as wajib, a level just below fard, and hold that a person praying behind an imam does not recite). A new Muslim should learn Al-Fatiha in Arabic as soon as possible; until then, many scholars advise saying phrases of dhikr such as “Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar” in its place.

The prayer becomes invalid and must be repeated if a person:

• Breaks their wudu.
• Deliberately speaks words unrelated to the prayer.
• Eats or drinks deliberately.
• Laughs out loud.
• Makes a lot of continuous unnecessary movement.
• Turns the body away from the qiblah without excuse.
• Deliberately leaves out a pillar (such as bowing or prostrating) or a condition of the prayer (such as covering the 'awrah).

Forgetfulness is forgiven, and mistakes are repaired with the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw): two extra prostrations at the end of the prayer. For example, if you forget the first tashahhud, or are unsure how many rak'ahs you prayed (then build on the smaller number). The schools differ on whether these prostrations come before or after the final salam; both are reported from the Prophet ﷺ.

If a pillar such as a whole bowing or prostration is forgotten, it must be made up — not just replaced by sujud as-sahw.

Focus (khushu') is the soul of the prayer. Stray thoughts do not invalidate it, but try to reflect on what you are saying.

Allah has made prayer easier for travellers:

• Shortening (qasr): the 4-rak'ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha) are prayed as 2 rak'ahs. Fajr and Maghrib are never shortened.
• Combining (jam'): Dhuhr and Asr may be prayed together in the time of either, and Maghrib and Isha together in the time of either.

Where the schools differ:

• Distance: most scholars set it at roughly 80 km or more (estimates vary slightly); some scholars say it is whatever people normally consider travel.
• How long you remain a traveller: for the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, intending to stay about four days or more in one place makes you a resident; for the Hanafis it is fifteen days. If you do not know when you will leave, you keep shortening.
• Shortening is required for the Hanafis and a strong sunnah for the others.
• Combining because of travel is allowed by the majority; the Hanafis allow it only at Arafah and Muzdalifah during Hajj.

A traveller praying behind a resident imam prays the full number of rak'ahs with him.

The Friday prayer is obligatory on adult Muslim men who are resident and able. It is not obligatory on women, travellers, children or the sick — but if they attend, it is valid and counts in place of Dhuhr.

It replaces the Dhuhr prayer and consists of:

• The call to prayer (adhan).
• A sermon (khutbah) given by the imam, usually in two parts.
• Two rak'ahs prayed in congregation, with the imam reciting aloud.

Etiquette of Friday:

• Take a bath (ghusl), wear clean clothes and use perfume (for men).
• Go early to the mosque.
• Listen silently to the khutbah; do not talk or play with your phone.
• Send many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and make du'a — there is an hour on Friday in which du'a is answered.

Someone who misses Jumu'ah prays Dhuhr (4 rak'ahs) instead.

Fasting means not eating, drinking or having marital relations from true dawn (the start of Fajr) until sunset, with the intention of worshipping Allah. It is obligatory on every adult Muslim of sound mind who is able.

How to fast:

• Make the intention. Most scholars require it to be made at night before dawn for an obligatory fast (the Hanafis allow it until before midday; the Malikis allow one intention at the start of Ramadan for the whole month).
• Eat the pre-dawn meal (suhur) — “Take suhur, for in suhur there is blessing” (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim, narrated by Anas).
• Break the fast promptly at sunset (iftar), preferably with dates or water.
• Guard the tongue and eyes; avoid lying, backbiting and arguing.

Who does not have to fast:

• The sick and travellers may break the fast and make up the days later (Quran 2:184).
• Women in menstruation or post-natal bleeding must not fast; they make up the days later.
• The elderly and the chronically ill who cannot fast and are not expected to recover: they feed one poor person for each day missed instead.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women who fear harm for themselves or the baby may break the fast and make up the days. Scholars differ on whether they must also feed a poor person for each day.
• Children are not obliged, but are gently trained to fast before puberty.

These break the fast when done deliberately and knowingly:

• Eating or drinking anything, including smoking.
• Sexual intercourse. This also requires a heavy expiation (kaffarah): freeing a slave, or if not possible fasting sixty consecutive days, or if not possible feeding sixty poor people — in addition to making up the day.
• Deliberately making oneself vomit.
• The start of menstruation or post-natal bleeding, even shortly before sunset.
• Anything nourishing taken into the body, such as a nutritional drip.

A broken fast must be made up later. For deliberate eating or drinking, the Hanafis and Malikis also require the kaffarah, while the Shafi'is and Hanbalis require only the make-up.

These do NOT break the fast:

• Eating or drinking out of genuine forgetfulness.
• Unintentional vomiting.
• Brushing the teeth or using a miswak, rinsing the mouth without swallowing, showering or swimming without swallowing water.
• Swallowing your own saliva, or tasting food with the tip of the tongue without swallowing (when there is a need).
• Waking up in a state of janabah (needing ghusl) — just take the ghusl and continue fasting.

Modern matters such as eye or ear drops, non-nourishing injections and blood tests: many contemporary scholars say they do not break the fast, while some differ. Ask a trusted local scholar.

Zakat is an obligatory charity on Muslims who own wealth above a minimum amount (the nisab) for one full lunar year (hawl).

The basics for money and gold:

• The nisab for gold is about 85 grams; for silver about 595 grams.
• For cash and savings, scholars use the value of either the gold or the silver nisab. Many contemporary scholars use gold; others prefer silver because it is lower and benefits more poor people.
• If your zakatable wealth stays at or above the nisab for a lunar year, you pay 2.5% (one fortieth) of it.
• Zakatable wealth includes cash, bank savings, gold and silver, and goods held for trade.
• Your home, car, furniture and personal clothes are not zakatable.

Other wealth has its own rules, for example crops (10% if watered naturally, 5% if irrigated with effort) and livestock.

Gold jewellery worn by women: the Hanafis require zakat on it; the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools do not, for normal permissible jewellery.

Who may receive zakat: the eight categories named in Quran 9:60 — the poor, the needy, those who collect it, those whose hearts are being brought closer to Islam, freeing captives, people in debt, in the cause of Allah, and the stranded traveller. It may not be given to your own parents, children or spouse whom you must already support.

Zakat al-Fitr is a small charity paid at the end of Ramadan. It purifies the fasting person from idle talk and mistakes and ensures the poor can celebrate Eid.

• Who pays: every Muslim who has more than their needs for the day and night of Eid — and the head of the family pays for each dependant, including children. (The Hanafis make it obligatory on those who own the nisab.)
• How much: one sa' (a measure of about 2.5–3 kg) of the staple food of the country, such as rice, wheat, dates or flour, per person.
• When: before the Eid prayer. It may be paid a day or two earlier. Paying it after the Eid prayer without excuse is sinful, and it then counts only as ordinary charity.
• Cash or food: the majority (Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) say it must be given as food; the Hanafis allow its value in money, and many people follow this today where it better serves the poor.
• To whom: the poor and needy Muslims.

Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime on every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able. It takes place from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) can be done at any time of the year. It is obligatory once in a lifetime for the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, and a strongly recommended sunnah for the Hanafis and Malikis.

Umrah in four steps:

• 1. Ihram: enter the sacred state at the miqat with intention, saying the talbiyah: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk…” (Here I am, O Allah, here I am). Men wear two white unstitched sheets.
• 2. Tawaf: walk around the Ka'bah seven times, starting at the Black Stone, then pray two rak'ahs.
• 3. Sa'i: walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
• 4. Shave or shorten the hair (women cut a fingertip's length). Ihram ends.

The main days of Hajj:

• 8th: go to Mina.
• 9th: stand at Arafah from midday until sunset, making du'a — this is the greatest pillar of Hajj. Spend the night at Muzdalifah.
• 10th (Eid al-Adha): stone the large pillar (Jamrat al-'Aqabah), offer the sacrifice, shave or shorten the hair, and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah and sa'i.
• 11th–13th: stay in Mina and stone the three pillars each day (one may leave after the 12th).
• Before leaving Makkah: the farewell tawaf.

Hajj is detailed; pilgrims should study it with a qualified teacher or group before travelling.

The general rule is that food is halal (permitted) unless there is evidence that it is forbidden. Allah has forbidden:

• Pork and all its products (including pork gelatin and lard).
• Dead animals that were not properly slaughtered (except fish and locusts).
• Flowing blood.
• Animals slaughtered in the name of other than Allah.
• Alcohol and every intoxicant, in any amount (Quran 5:90).
• Predatory animals with fangs (such as lions, dogs and cats) and birds of prey with talons (Sahih Muslim, narrated by Ibn Abbas).

Halal slaughter: a sharp cut of the throat by a Muslim (or by one of the People of the Book — Jews and Christians — Quran 5:5), mentioning Allah's name. Most scholars require saying “Bismillah” when it is remembered; the Shafi'is consider it sunnah.

Seafood: the majority allow all sea creatures; the Hanafis allow only fish.

Practical tips:

• Look for trusted halal certification and check ingredient lists (gelatin, enzymes, alcohol flavourings).
• Vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, milk and fish are halal.
• In real necessity, when one would die or suffer serious harm otherwise, a person may eat what is forbidden just enough to survive (Quran 2:173).
• Say “Bismillah” before eating and “Alhamdulillah” after it, and eat with the right hand.

After the obligatory prayer it is sunnah to say:

• “Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah's forgiveness) three times.
• “Allahumma antas-salam wa minkas-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram” (O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace; blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour).
• “Subhanallah” (Glory be to Allah) 33 times, “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allah) 33 times, “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest) 33 times, and to complete one hundred: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir” (There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things).
• Ayat al-Kursi, and the surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas.

About du'a (personal supplication):

• Allah is near and answers the one who calls on Him (Quran 2:186).
• Begin by praising Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, then ask for anything good for this life and the next.
• Good times for du'a include during prostration (as in the hadith above), between the adhan and the iqamah, the last third of the night, and while fasting.
• Outside the prayer you may make du'a in any language. Inside the prayer, scholars differ about du'a in a language other than Arabic, so it is best to learn a few short Arabic du'as for it.

A simple daily dhikr: “Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-'Adhim” — two phrases the Prophet ﷺ described as light on the tongue, heavy on the Scale and beloved to the Most Merciful (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim, narrated by Abu Hurayrah).