Write about the different types of purification before the performance of salat: • wudu • tayammum and • ghusl.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 5(a) Write about the different types of purification before the performance of salat:
2. • wudu
3. • tayammum; and
4. • ghusl.
5. Use the AO1 Marking Grid
6. Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.
7. Before beginning the prayer, a believer must be in a state of ritual purity, cleansed of major and minor impurities. Wudu, tayammum, and ghusl are the three ways of ritual purification.
8. Four rites are mentioned in the Qur'an specifically for the performance of wudu. They are to wash the face from the top of the head to the chin and as far as the ears; to wash hands and arms up to the elbows; to wipe the head with wet hands and to wash the feet up to the ankles.
9. The Sunna method of performing wudu is:
10. • One must begin the wudu with God's name;
11. • The intention to perform the wudu must be made;
12. • A clean area should be used to perform wudu preferably facing the qibla and clean water should be used;
13. • Hands should be washed up to the wrists. Miswak or brush could be used to clean one's teeth;
14. • The mouth should be rinsed (gargled) three times;
15. • The face is then washed from the forehead down to the throat, and from ear to ear;
16. • Both forearms are washed thrice, from wrists to elbows beginning with the right arm;
17. • After this, wet palms are passed over the head (once), this is called masah of the head;
18. • Similarly masah of the neck is performed followed by cleaning the ears back and front;
19. • Finally, the right foot and then the left foot are washed up to the ankles, thrice each.
20. Wudu should be in a continuous process with each part being washed in the prescribed way. To wash thrice is the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) who after wudu proclaimed the Shahadah.
21. Permission for tayammum is given by God in the case of non-availability of water or on grounds of illness. The approved method of performing tayammum is to say Bismillah and then to make the intention to perform tayammum.
22. After this both hands are struck on some clean earth, sand or stone, next the excessive sand should be blown off then both hands are rubbed on the face in such a way that no part of the face that should be washed by wudu is left out. Then both hands should be struck again on the clean earth or sand and after blowing off the excess they should be passed over first the right and then the left arm up to the elbows. This completes the tayammum. A dry stone free of dust a brick or an earthen pot can be used for the purpose of tayammum as well
23. In the case of major impurity a full bath, ghusl, is required which entails making the intention, washing both hands including wrists, washing off any impurity from the body. This is followed by wudu in the prescribed order and finally pouring water thrice on the entire body from head to feet first from the right side and then the left.
24. There are some acts which nullify wudu, tayyamum and ghusl and it is imperative to purify oneself again afterwards. Some of these acts are: vomiting, laughter during prayer, leakage of any impurity from the body, blood or pus from the wound, feeling drowsy or sleepy during the prayer, intoxication, mental imbalance.
25. 5(b) In your opinion, what is the most important benefit of salat in the lives of Muslims? Give reasons to support your answer.
26. Use the AO2 Marking Grid
27. Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.
28. Candidates could say that the most important benefit of salat is that by having specific times of prayer believers remember God five times a day at least and remain aware of the importance of faith in daily life; Muslims start their day by purifying themselves and standing before their Lord. Another important benefit of salat is that it is a constant reminder to Muslims about the presence of God. It strengthens their dependence and faith in God and puts daily life in perspective of the hereafter and the final judgment.