33 Essential Lessons for Every Muslim

Tauheed means believing in the Oneness of Allah in His Lordship, worship, and names and attributes. It is the most fundamental principle of Islam - the belief that Allah alone deserves to be worshipped, He alone is the Creator, and He alone has perfect names and attributes.

Shirk means associating partners with Allah. It is the greatest sin in Islam and the only sin Allah will not forgive if a person dies without repenting from it.

Allah says: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." (Quran 4:48)

This takes a person out of Islam completely. Examples include:

• Praying to idols or graves
• Believing others share Allah's power to create or control the universe
• Making vows or sacrifices for other than Allah
• Seeking judgment from false deities or taghut (false gods/authorities)

This does not take a person out of Islam but is still a grave sin. Examples include:

• Riya (showing off) - Performing worship to impress people
• Swearing by other than Allah (e.g., "I swear by my mother")
• Saying "What Allah willed and you willed" (instead of "What Allah alone willed")
• Wearing amulets or charms for protection

Kufr (disbelief) is broader than Shirk. While all Shirk is Kufr, not all Kufr is Shirk.

Lesson 5: Nullifiers of Islam

Ten actions that nullify one's Islam, including shirk, practicing magic, believing Islamic law is not the best system, hating any part of Islam, and mocking Allah, His Messenger, or the religion.

Lesson 6: Types of Kufr

Kufr of denial (denying Allah), Kufr of arrogance (like Iblis who knew but refused), Kufr of doubt (uncertainty about Islamic truths), Kufr of turning away (ignoring Islam completely), and Kufr of hypocrisy (outwardly Muslim, inwardly disbelieving).

Lesson 7: Nifaq (Hypocrisy)

Major hypocrisy (pretending to be Muslim while disbelieving - takes one out of Islam) and minor hypocrisy (having traits like lying, breaking promises, and betraying trust - sinful but doesn't nullify Islam).

Lesson 8: Sihr (Magic/Sorcery)

Magic is major kufr and shirk. Learning it, practicing it, or believing in it contradicts Tauheed. The penalty for a sorcerer is death in Islamic law.

Lesson 9: Soothsaying and Fortune-Telling

Claiming knowledge of the unseen (which belongs only to Allah) through fortune-telling, astrology, or palm-reading is prohibited. Visiting such people and believing them is also forbidden.

Lesson 10: Tawaaf (Circumambulation)

Tawaaf (circling) is only permissible around the Ka'bah in worship of Allah. Doing tawaaf around graves, shrines, or any other object as an act of worship is major shirk.

Lesson 11: Slaughtering for Other Than Allah

Sacrificing animals in the name of anyone other than Allah (e.g., for jinn, saints, or idols) is major shirk. All sacrifices must be done solely for Allah's sake.

Lesson 12: Making Vows to Other Than Allah

Vowing (making a pledge to do something) must only be for Allah. Making vows to saints, graves, or any creation is shirk.

Lesson 13: Seeking Help from the Dead or Absent

Calling upon the dead, absent, or those who cannot hear is shirk. Only Allah can be called upon for help in matters beyond human capability.

Lesson 14: Relying on Other Than Allah

While we can rely on people for normal worldly affairs, complete reliance and trust (tawakkul) must be in Allah alone. Believing anyone can independently harm or benefit without Allah's will is shirk.

Lesson 15: Intercession (Shafa'ah)

All intercession on the Day of Judgment belongs to Allah alone. No one can intercede except by His permission. Believing that saints or prophets can intercede independently is shirk.

Lesson 16: Ruling by Other Than What Allah Revealed

Judging by laws other than Allah's Sharia, while believing they are better or equal to Islamic law, is major kufr. Muslims must believe Allah's law is supreme.

The Six Obligatory Acts of Wudhu:

1. Washing the face - From hairline to chin, ear to ear
2. Washing both hands and arms - Up to and including the elbows
3. Wiping the head - At least part of it (Sunnah to wipe all)
4. Washing both feet - Up to and including the ankles
5. Following the proper sequence - In the order mentioned above
6. Continuity (Muwalat) - Washing each part before the previous one dries

Allah says: "O you who believe! When you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your hands to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles..." (Quran 5:6)

Recommended (Sunnah) acts that bring extra reward:

• Using Siwak (tooth-stick) or brushing teeth
• Saying "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) before starting
• Washing hands three times at the beginning
• Rinsing the mouth (Madmadah)
• Sniffing water into the nose (Istinshaq) and expelling it (Istinthar)
• Wiping the entire head including the ears
• Washing each part three times (not more)
• Starting with the right side before the left
• Saying the shahada after finishing

Your wudhu is broken by:

1. Anything coming from the front or back private parts - Urine, stool, gas
2. Deep sleep - Sleep while lying down or leaning (light sleep while sitting doesn't break it)
3. Loss of consciousness - Fainting, insanity, intoxication
4. Touching private parts - Directly with the hand without a barrier
5. Eating camel meat - This specifically requires new wudhu

Ghusl becomes obligatory in these situations:

1. Emission of semen - Whether during sleep (wet dream) or while awake
2. Sexual intercourse - Even if no emission occurs, ghusl is required for both partners
3. Menstruation - After the menstrual period ends
4. Post-natal bleeding (Nifas) - After childbirth bleeding stops
5. Death - The deceased must be given ghusl before burial

Minimum (Obligatory):

Intend purification in your heart, then pour water over entire body, ensuring it reaches every part including hair roots.

Complete (Following the Sunnah):

1. Wash hands three times
2. Wash private parts
3. Perform complete wudhu
4. Pour water over head three times, ensuring it reaches the roots
5. Wash the right side of body
6. Wash the left side of body
7. Wash the feet

Tayammum is purification using clean earth/dust when water is not available or cannot be used.

1. Make intention in your heart for purification
2. Say "Bismillah"
3. Strike clean earth/dust once with both palms
4. Wipe your face with both hands
5. Wipe your hands - Right palm over left hand up to wrist, then left palm over right hand

Lesson 22: Wiping Over Khuffs (Leather Socks)

Instead of washing feet during wudhu, you can wipe over leather socks (khuffs) or regular socks if:

• You wore them after having wudhu
• They cover the feet completely
• Time limit: 1 day and night for residents, 3 days and nights for travelers
• Just wipe the top of the socks/khuffs with wet hands, not the bottom

Lesson 23: Menstruation (Hayd) and Post-Natal Bleeding (Nifas)

During menstruation and post-natal bleeding, women:

• Do not pray (and don't make up these prayers later)
• Do not fast (but must make up missed fasts later)
• Cannot perform tawaf around Ka'bah
• Cannot touch or recite Quran
• Cannot have sexual intercourse
• Must perform ghusl when bleeding stops before resuming prayers

Lesson 24: Impurities (Najasah) and How to Purify Them

Common impurities include: urine, feces, blood, pus, vomit, alcohol, dead animals (except fish and locusts). To purify:

• On clothes/ground: Wash with water until removed
• Dog's saliva: Wash 7 times, first time with earth/dust mixed with water
• Child's urine: Boy - sprinkle water; Girl - wash thoroughly
• Ground/floor: Pouring water over it is sufficient

Nine conditions that must be met before prayer:

1. Being Muslim
2. Being sane
3. Being of age of discernment (around 7 years old)
4. Purification from impurity (having wudhu or ghusl)
5. Removing impurities from body, clothes, and place of prayer
6. Covering the 'awrah (for men: navel to knees minimum; for women: entire body except face and hands)
7. Knowing the prayer time has entered
8. Facing the Qiblah (direction of Ka'bah in Makkah)
9. Having the intention in the heart

Fourteen essential pillars - if any is missed, the prayer is invalid:

1. Standing (if able) during obligatory prayers
2. Opening Takbir - Saying "Allahu Akbar" to begin
3. Reciting Al-Fatihah in every rak'ah
4. Bowing (Ruku')
5. Rising from bowing
6. Standing straight after rising from bowing
7. Prostrating (Sujud) - Twice in each rak'ah
8. Rising from prostration
9. Sitting between the two prostrations
10. Being tranquil (pausing briefly) in all positions
11. Performing actions in order
12. Final sitting (Tashahhud al-Akhir)
13. Reciting the final Tashahhud
14. Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ in final sitting
15. Two Salams - Saying "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" to the right and left

Eight obligatory acts - if missed intentionally, prayer is invalid; if forgotten, do two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sujud as-Sahw):

1. All Takbirs except the opening one (saying "Allahu Akbar" when changing positions)
2. Saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him) when rising from bowing
3. Saying "Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (Our Lord, to You is praise) after rising from bowing
4. Saying "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" (Glory to my Lord the Most Great) in bowing
5. Saying "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (Glory to my Lord the Most High) in prostration
6. Saying "Rabbi ghfir li" (My Lord, forgive me) between the two prostrations
7. First Tashahhud in prayers of more than two rak'ahs
8. Sitting for the first Tashahhud

Lesson 28: Sunnah Acts of Prayer

Recommended acts that bring extra reward (not obligatory):

• Raising hands during opening Takbir, before and after bowing
• Placing right hand over left on chest while standing
• Looking at place of prostration
• Reciting Surah after Al-Fatihah in first two rak'ahs
• Saying du'a after Tashahhud before Salam
• Making du'a in prostration

Lesson 29: Things That Nullify Prayer

Actions that invalidate your prayer:

• Intentional speech (except Quran, dhikr, or correcting the imam)
• Eating or drinking
• Excessive unnecessary movement
• Turning away from Qiblah without valid reason
• Exposing the 'awrah during prayer
• Anything that breaks wudhu
• Laughing out loud

Lesson 30: Prostration of Forgetfulness (Sujud as-Sahw)

If you forget something in prayer or make a mistake:

• If you add extra: Do two prostrations after Salam
• If you omit something: Do two prostrations before Salam
• If you doubt: Build on certainty (assume the lesser amount), then complete prayer and do two prostrations after Salam
• Each prostration is like a normal prostration with Tasbeeh

Zakat is obligatory charity paid annually on certain types of wealth. It purifies wealth and helps the poor.

1. Gold and Silver / Cash Money:

• Nisab: 85 grams of gold OR 595 grams of silver
• Amount: 2.5% of total wealth annually

2. Trade Goods:

• Items bought for resale
• Calculate value at end of year and pay 2.5%

3. Livestock (Camels, Cattle, Sheep/Goats):

Specific amounts apply based on number of animals (detailed charts available in Fiqh books)

4. Crops and Fruits:

• 10% if watered naturally (rain)
• 5% if watered with effort (irrigation)
• Nisab: 5 Wasq (approximately 653 kg)

Allah specified eight categories in the Quran (9:60):

1. The poor (Al-Fuqara)
2. The needy (Al-Masakin)
3. Zakat administrators
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled (new Muslims)
5. Freeing slaves
6. Those in debt
7. In the cause of Allah
8. Travelers in need

Washing the deceased is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) - if some Muslims perform it, the obligation is lifted from others; if no one does it, all are sinful.

1. Cover the 'awrah (private parts)
2. Gently press the stomach
3. Perform wudhu for the deceased (without rinsing mouth and nose with water)
4. Wash the head and beard with water and lotus leaves (Sidr)
5. Wash the right side of the body
6. Wash the left side of the body
7. Repeat washing three, five, or seven times (odd numbers)
8. Use camphor in the final wash
9. Dry the body with a clean cloth

The funeral prayer is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah). It is performed standing (no bowing or prostration):

1. First Takbir: Say "Allahu Akbar" and recite Al-Fatihah
2. Second Takbir: Say "Allahu Akbar" and send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ
3. Third Takbir: Say "Allahu Akbar" and make du'a for the deceased
4. Fourth Takbir: Say "Allahu Akbar" and make brief du'a
5. Salam: Say "Assalamu alaikum" to the right (and left according to some scholars)

• Burial should be done as soon as possible after death
• Dig the grave deep enough (about chest level of a standing person)
• Make a niche (Lahd) on the Qiblah side to place the body
• Lower the body gently into the grave
• Place the body on its right side, facing the Qiblah
• Untie the shroud knots (but leave shroud on)
• Cover the niche with bricks or wood
• Fill the grave with soil
• Raise the grave slightly above ground level (about one hand span)
• Mark the grave simply (no elaborate structures)

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "When you have placed your deceased in the grave, let one of you say, 'Bismillah wa 'ala millati rasulillah' (In the name of Allah and upon the religion of Allah's Messenger)."

May Allah ﷻ accept from us, grant us understanding of His religion, and help us implement what we have learned. May He make us among those who learn, practice, and teach others beneficial knowledge.