Dr. Rashad Khalifa
Ablution should follow God's simple commandment in 5:6, while the prolonged ablution of the sects comes from imams' opinions.1, 2
The ablutions before prayer encourage more frequent toilet use, which protects against colon cancer.1
People who add extra steps to God's commandments, such as ablution, are not following what God says, even though they think they are righteous.1, 2, 3, 4
If God teaches a practice one way and a human teaches it differently, following the human version sets up that teacher as a god, while following God's teachings is worshiping God.1, 2, 3
God gives four steps of ablution, washing the face, washing the arms to the elbows, wiping the head, and washing the feet, and obeying God means doing these four, no more and no less.1, 2, 3
Most Muslims perform nine steps of ablution instead of the four God gave, and on the Day of Judgment they must answer who the other god was that told them to do nine.1, 2, 3
There is no specific number of washes in ablution; washing once is enough, or more if one feels it is necessary.1, 2, 3
Ablution decreed in 5:6 has four steps: wash the face, wash the arms to the elbows, wipe the hair, and wash the feet; adding or removing steps is a gross transgression and idolatry.1, 2, 3, 4
Extra cleanliness is fine outside ablution, but in religious practice we adhere exactly to what God dictated; ablution may be done in the shower by going through its motions.1, 2, 3
Those who add steps to ablution think they follow the Prophet, but the Prophet could never disobey God, so the four steps God gave are the ablution.1, 2
When God says the ablution is four steps, the believer accepts it is four steps without arguing.1
Ablution as an act of worship differs from personal hygiene such as bathing or brushing teeth.1, 2, 3
The ablution taught in the Quran has four steps, no more and no less; adding steps means following another god besides God.1, 2, 3, 4
Ablution has only four simple steps, and adding extra prayers or steps is wrong because God's instructions must be done exactly as prescribed.1, 2
Fasting cleanses the soul as washing cleans the body, by controlling anger, desires, and wrong actions, just as ablution precedes the Contact Prayer.1
The Quran deals only with practices that were distorted, such as requiring ablution in four steps and a moderate tone of voice in the Contact Prayers.1
According to 5:6, ablution consists of four steps: wash the face, wash the arms to the elbow, wipe the head, and wash the feet, while the nine or ten step version is man-made.1, 2, 3
Missing a tiny ritual detail, like an unwashed hair in ablution, is no great matter, yet we must still sincerely follow our worship practices.1
Before the contact prayer, believers must wash their faces, wash their hands to the elbows, wipe their heads, and wash their feet.1, 2, 3, 4
The Quran addresses only practices that had been distorted, such as requiring ablution in four steps and a moderate tone of voice during the Contact prayers.1
The prayer of the ancient Jews resembles the Salat of Muslims, including prostration, washing before prayer like ablution, and a call to prayer like the Azan.1, 2
Where God modified any practice given to Abraham, He pointed it out in the Quran, and the Quran also gives the correct version of corrupted practices, such as ablution.1
When opening the prayer one is in direct contact with the Creator, so one should prepare mentally and physically for this audience, from ablution to planning one's time.1, 2
The five daily Contact Prayers are perhaps the most important reminder, and remembering God through them, including the preparation and ablution, is their most important objective.1, 2, 3
The Quran reports only those practices that were changed, distorted, or disputed; for example, it gives the distorted ablution as four steps and no more.1
God has decreed four steps for ablution, while traditional Muslims follow their own longer procedures.1
The Contact Prayers are preceded by ablution of four definite steps, not washing all exposed body parts as clerics claim, and dry ablution is allowed when water is unavailable.1
The five daily Contact Prayers are the most obvious way to remember God, including the time spent preparing and doing ablution, and we should concentrate on the words during prayer.1, 2, 3
Had God wanted women to cover their hair He would have named the hair or head plainly, as He does when commanding to wipe the head in ablution.1
Prayers not ordained by God, such as Eid prayer, Taraweeh, and Istikhara, and adding or omitting steps of ablution are traligious rituals.1
Women are commanded to dress modestly but not to hide themselves, so covering all but the eyes is demeaning, and the necessary parts seem to be those washed in ablution.1, 2
God gave four simple steps of ablution to perform before prayer, likely to put us in a good frame of mind for prayer.1
Satan also pushes people to add extra rakats and lengthy ablution rituals so worship becomes too hard and they quit, but God does not want worship to be difficult.1, 2, 3
Believers are commanded to perform ablution before the Contact Prayers.1