ABLUTION SECTION · 31 – ESSENTIALS OF ABLUTION
59 – Narrated from the father of Abu al-Melih:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah does not accept any charity given from wealth acquired through treachery, nor does He accept any prayer performed in a state of ritual impurity.” [73]
*Explanation:* The term "Gulul" mentioned in the hadith text signifies concealed treachery. Charity is an act of worship. Purity is a condition for the acceptance of worship. Wealth obtained by theft or secretly taken from spoils of war is impure. Since one cannot perform an act of worship with something impure, charity given from wealth acquired through treachery is not acceptable. Purification from impurity involves ritual bath (ghusl) and ablution (wudu), and since prayer is a condition that requires these, one cannot stand before Allah without them.
60 – Narrated from Abu Hurairah:
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah does not accept the prayer of any of you until he performs ablution when his ablution is invalidated.” [74]
61 – Narrated from Ali:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The key to prayer is purity (ablution), the tahrimah is the declaration of takbir, and the tahlil is the greeting (salaam)." [75]
*Explanation:* Purity (ablution) is the key to prayer. One cannot stand for prayer without purity, nor is it permissible even if one does. The tahrimah, which prohibits engagement with external matters in prayer, is the initial takbir. The tahlil, which permits engagement with external matters after prayer, is the greeting (salaam). Prayer begins with takbir; it cannot begin with anything else. One exits prayer with the utterance of salaam; one cannot exit with anything else. According to Imam al-A’zam, a person may exit prayer with something contrary to it, provided it is by his own volition. However, according to Hadrat Ali, the utterance of salaam is obligatory.