يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ Qur’an Al-Ma'ida (5:6)Y a ayyuh a alla th eena a manoo i tha qumtum il a a l ss al a ti fa i ghsiloo wujoohakum waaydiyakum il a almar a fiqi wa i msa h oo biruoosikum waarjulakum il a alkaAAbayni wain kuntum junuban fa i tt ahharoo wain kuntum mar da aw AAal a safarin aw j a a a h adun minkum mina algh a i t i aw l a mastumu a l nnis a a falam tajidoo m a an fatayammamoo s aAAeedan t ayyiban fa i msa h oo biwujoohikum waaydeekum minhu m a yureedu All a hu liyajAAala AAalaykum min h arajin wal a kin yureedu liyu t ahhirakum waliyutimma niAAmatahu AAalaykum laAAallakum tashkuroon a
For an explanation of this and the following passage, see 4:43 and the corresponding notes. Here, the reference to prayer connects with the last sentence of the preceding verse, which speaks of belief in God.
For example, following sexual intercourse or a wet dream.
This ruling is called tayammum or ‘dry ablution.’ See footnote for 4:43.
These are the essentials of Wudhu, or ablutions preparatory to prayers, viz., (1) to bathe the whole face in water, and (2) both hands and arms to the elbows, with (3) 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.
Cf. iv. 43 and n. 563. Ritual impurity arises from sex pollution.
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 Wudhu and for a full bath, in the circumstances mentioned.