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my faith
...
ISLAM
One of the main features of a
masjid
(mosque) is the foun-
tain or
wudu’
area where Muslims go to make their ablu-
tions.
Wudu
’ can even be made in a sink; all that’s needed
is clean water. The entire procedure takes about a minute,
and Muslims are encouraged by the Prophet [s] not to
waste water while doing so. The state of ritual purity is valid
for as long as a person has no bodily waste functions, and
doesn’t bleed or fall asleep, so a person could make sev-
eral prayers throughout the day on just one
wudu
’. There is
a requirement for taking a shower, as well, for those who
had intimate relations, or finished their menses. The
blessed Prophet Muhammad [s] once said, “
The key to
heaven is prayer (salah) and the key to prayer is being rit-
ually pure.
”
The concept of washing before prayer is not a new one.
The Bible provides numerous examples of its prophets,
priests, and even Jesus [a] washing before praying. Even
though this practice has fallen into disuse in modern-day
Judaism and Christianity, it is nevertheless an integral part
of their ancient religious roots.(See Exodus 30: 1 7-21, for
example.)
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