What is Wudu/Ablution, why do we have to do it? Is this done everyday? Is it different for men than women?
It is like ritual baptism but practiced on a daily basis. We Muslims are basically “hemerobaptists” meaning people who ritually cleanse themselves with water on a daily basis. Wudu means you wash certain parts of your body (hands, face, arms including elbows, and feet including ankles). After you do Wudu, you are in a state of ritual purity. You have to be in a state of ritual purity to offer the Salat, our main form of worship, and to touch the Holy Qur’an. Wudu is broken when you answer the call of nature, fall asleep, bleeding, vomiting. Ritual purity is broken through sexual intercourse, which means you have to do Ghusl (ritual bath).
Basically it is the same for men and women, but there are some minor differences. For example, a woman’s ritual purity is broken due to menses. Also, during a Ghusl (ritual bath) a woman does not have to undo her braided hair as long as she makes the water reach the roots of her hair.
One of the reasons Muslim ladies are discouraged from wearing nail polish is because it prevents the water from touching the nails, and nails are part of the hands which have to be washed during Wudu, otherwise Wudu will not be valid.
Wudu is an Arabic word, and in English it is called Ablution. They are the same thing. We do it because it purifies us, externally (from dirt, and impure substances) and also internally (from sins that we commit with our limbs). It is done everyday, yes. Usually we do it five times a day, before we pray, but it is not necessary to do it five times. If you have broken your Wudu, you must redo it before you can pray.
So here is what invalidates your Wudu:
1. Any discharge from the front or back passage like urine, stools, passing wind, etc.
2. Sleep, unconsciousness, intoxication, etc., or losing one's mind with insanity.
3. Touching your private areas (between the legs).
4. Eating camel meat.
When you have done one of the above, you have to redo your Wudu. If you have not done any of the above, your Wudu is in tact until you have done one of the above.
It is not different for men and women. It is done the same way. One thing you should know when you are learning to do Wudu, there are Fard (obligatory) parts of the Wudu which must be completed for it to be valid, and there are also Sunnah (practice of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him), which can also be done for more reward but if they are not done your Wudu is still valid, as long as you have done the obligatory parts of it. It is better to do the Fard and the Sunnah parts, but just Fard is sufficient. I hope this did not confuse you. Please ask more questions.
Ghusl (full body bath) is different than Wudu and must be done at other certain times (after the menses, after sexual intercourse with your spouse, etc.)
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