Sun-heated water, known in classical fiqh as mushammas water or al-mā’ al-mushammas, is water warmed by direct sunlight. In Shafi‘i fiqh, it remains pure and purifying, but its use on the body can be disliked when specific conditions are present. This topic often raises practical questions. Can sun-heated water be used for wudu? Is water … Read more
Thaharah means purification according to Islamic law. It is not merely physical cleanliness, a pleasant smell, or tidy clothing. In fiqh, thaharah is the state of ritual purity needed for acts of worship, especially prayer. The scriptural proofs of thaharah come from the Qur’an and the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ. These proofs explain wudu, … Read more
Understanding the monthly cycle can sometimes feel like solving a puzzle, especially when bleeding appears outside the usual schedule. This guide to women’s fiqh explains the difference between ḥayḍ (menstrual bleeding), nifās (postnatal bleeding), and istiḥāḍah (irregular non-menstrual bleeding), so that worship can be performed calmly and without unnecessary doubt. Before going into detailed cases, … Read more
Did you know that performing Tayammum on a wall or a car window might be invalid if the surface is too clean? Or did you know that Tayammum does not actually “lift” the state of ritual impurity (Hadath)? Many of us are forced to perform Tayammum in emergency situations, yet unknowingly make mistakes in practicing … Read more
Every Muslim who is about to establish prayer must have asked: “Is my ablution still valid?” or “Am I currently in a state of ritual impurity (hadath)?” This question is not merely a technicality of ritual. It is the very foundation of all our worship. If someone prays while in a state of hadath, their … Read more
Have you ever realized that whether or not the daily prayers (Salah) we perform are valid depends heavily on our routine activities in the restroom? Cleansing oneself after nature’s call, known in Islamic Fiqh literature as Istinja, is not merely a routine of physical hygiene. Rather, it is the opening key and an absolute prerequisite … Read more
Have you ever wondered why sometimes your Salah (prayer) feels lacking in khushu’ (solemnity) or feels somewhat empty? The ultimate key to the acceptance of a prayer and the presence of khushu’ actually begins long before we raise our hands for the Takbirat al-Ihram—it starts at the ablution area. Wudu (ablution) is not merely a … Read more
Have you ever realized that no matter how clean you wash yourself with the most expensive soap, it does not necessarily make you legally fit to perform prayer? In Islam, there is a very clear and rigid dividing line between simply being ‘clean’ and being ‘spiritually pure’ (suci). The key to this dividing line is … Read more
Have you ever panicked while enjoying your sahur meal when suddenly the imsak siren echoed from the mosque’s loudspeaker? Many Muslims in Indonesia reflexively stop chewing and put down their glasses, believing that the fasting limit has begun. But is this legally correct in Islamic law? Is our fast valid if we still swallow a … Read more
Have you ever seen piles of sacrificial animal hides in the mosque area and thought, “Instead of letting them go to waste, why not sell them for the mosque’s fund?” Or perhaps you received an overwhelming portion of Qurban meat and considered turning it into cash? While the intention might be noble, there are very … Read more