ILM AL-HÂL

71 8. Wipe over a quarter of the head with Basmalah using the right hand (ILLUSTRATION: 8). Then, wipe the inside of the ears with the wet shahâdah (index) fingers of both hands and behind the ears with wet thumbs (ILLUSTRATION: 9). Then wipe the back of the neck with the remaining fingers (the ones other than the thumbs and index fingers) (ILLUSTRATION: 10). It is a Sunnah act to wipe the entire head, which is performed as follows: After wetting both hands, the last three fingers are joined, the thumb and the shahâdah (index) finger being apart. The inside of these three fingers are put on the front edge of the hair just over the forehead. In the process of doing this, neither the thumb nor the shahâdah (index) finger nor the palm of the hand touch the head. Then, the top of the head is wiped backwards with the three joined fingers. Then, both sides of the head are wiped from back to front with the palms. After that, the inside of the ears are rubbed with the shahâdah (index) fingers. Next, the back of the ears is wiped over from bottom to top with the thumbs. Then, the back of the neck is wiped with the outer parts of those fingers other than the thumb and forefinger. The throat is not wiped. 9. Finally, start washing your right foot from the toes with Basmalah, using the left hand (ILLUSTRATION: 11). The parts in between the toes is wiped with the little finger of the left hand. This act of wiping is done beginning from