Cleanliness Prerequisite for Prayer

Allah’s Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The Salaat (prayer) of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs (repeats) the Wudhu (ablution).” [Bukhari]

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, lightly rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba, purify yourselves (bathe your whole body).” [Surah al-Maidah: Ayat 6]

The method that Islam has adopted to keep the body clean and tidy all the time is in accordance with man’s material temperament and nature. If man were merely a bundle of spirit or soul, there would have been no necessity of bathing, washing and cleaning the body. But since he lives in the material cover made of earth’s elements, breathes on this earth, makes use of its vegetables and minerals, and leaves the excreta of his stomach on it, Islam has made Wudhu (ablution) and Ghusl (bathing) compulsory for man so that he may keep clean of filth.