[[Asad’s note 16 (5:5) - …..it is in prayer that man’s dependence on God finds its most conscious and deliberate expression.]]

5. Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Repast)

Medina Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ...

5: 6. O ye who believe!

when ye prepare for prayer,

... فاغْسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُواْ بِرُؤُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَينِ ...

- wash your faces,

- and your hands (and arms) to the elbows;

- rub your heads (with water);

- and (wash) your feet to the ankles.

C702. These are the essentials of Wudu, or ablutions preparatory to prayers, viz.,

1. to bathe the whole face in water, and

2. both hands and arms to the elbows,

3. with a little rubbing of the head with water (as the head is usually protected and comparatively clean), and

4. the bathing of the feet to the ankles.

In addition, following the practice of the Prophet, it is usual first to wash the mouth, and the nose before proceeding with the face, etc.

... وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُواْ ...

If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body.

C703. Cf. 4:43 and n. 563.

Ritual impurity arises from sex pollution.

... وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاء أَحَدٌ مَّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لاَمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاء ...

But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women,

... فَلَمْ تَجِدُواْ مَاء فَتَيَمَّمُواْ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُواْ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ...

and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands.

C704. This is Tayammum, or wiping with clean sand or earth where water is not available.

I take it that this substitute is permissible both for Wudu and for a full bath, in the circumstances mentioned.

... مَا يُرِيدُ اللّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ ...

Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty,

... وَلَـكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهَّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٦﴾

but to make you clean, and to complete His favor to you, that ye may be grateful.

Other Versions:

5: 6 [al-Maidah, Medina 112 contains the last revelations]

Asad O you who have attained to faith! when you are about to pray…

Pickthall O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash your face, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks.

Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ iza_qumtum ilas salu_ti fagsilu_ wuju_hakum wa aidiyakum ilal mara_fiqi wamsahu_ bi ru'u_sikum wa arjulakum ilal ka'bain(i), wa in kuntum junuban fattahharu_, wa in kuntum marda_ au 'ala_ safarin au ja_'a ahadum minkum minal ga_'iti au la_mastumun nisa_'a fa lam tajidu_ ma_'an fa tayammamu_ sa'idan tayyiban famsahu_ bi wuju_hikum wa aidikum minh(u), ma_ yuridulla_hu liyaj'ala 'alaikum min harajiw wa la_kiy yuridu liyutahhirakum wa liyutimma ni'matahu_ 'alaikum la'allakum tasykuru_n(a).