Shafi’i Fiqh

Book of Prayer, Lesson 1

Pre-conditions of the prayer

1.   Tahara

According to the language of the Arab it means “cleaning” in any manner or by any means.

According to the Shari’a, the meaning applies specifically to three types of cleaning.

• Wudhu
• Ghusl
• Removal of Najis (filth)

Tahara according to Fiqh is Abadan, meaning it is the cleansing of parts of the body and must be distinguished from the Tahara of the Nafs, which is the cleansing of the soul and forms that branch of knowledge, which is called Tasawuf.

Tahara Abadan applies to minor impurity (hadath asghar) and major impurities (hadath akbar).

1. hadath asghar – that state of the body when wudhu is necessary ( wajib).

1. hadath akbar – that state of the body when a ghusl  is necessary ( wajib).

On the other hand, Tasawuf is divided into

Taghliya, which meaning “to make empty of” i.e. to clean the soul from bad manners and faults such as lies, hypocrisy, injustice, arrogance, envy, etc.

Tahliya, which means to “beautify” i.e. to fill the soul with good qualities after the removal of bad qualities.

From the notes of Shaykh Mahdi Hendricks written in the late 1970’s, Azawia, Walmer Estate, Cape Town, South Africa

Continue to Lesson 2.