When Muslims pray, we do a special wash called wudu
as a symbol that we are pure and ready to speak to Allah.
We wash our hands, face and feet three times,
but it's done in a particular way, in a particular order.
We sit here in front of one of these taps
because if possible, we prefer to do our wudu using running water
so we're not washing ourselves in water that someone else might have washed in.
First I say Bismillah, which is a short prayer in Arabic.
In English it goes in the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful.
I'll wash my hands thoroughly.
First, the right three times.
Then the left three times.
I rinse out my mouth three times.
I rinse my nose by snuffing water into my nostrils
and blowing it out three times.
I wash my face three times,
all of it from the bottom of my chin to my hairline.
Starting with my right arm.
I wash from the wrist to the elbow three times.
And then I'll do the same with my left arm.
I run my wet hands over my hair.
Then wipe my ears inside and out.
And then the back of my neck.
Then I wash my right foot three times up to the ankle.
And my left foot three times.
Finally, I say the Shahadah, which is another short prayer in Arabic.
In English it goes
I bear witness that there is no God but Allah,
and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
And now I'm ready to pray.