Splish, Splash, Wudu!

The sun had set, and the sky over Manchester glowed pink and gold.

"It's Maghrib time," said Ammi. "Time to make wudu."

"Me too!" said Ilyas, and he pushed up his sleeves, all by himself.

Ammi turned on the tap, just a little. "Not too much water," she said. "Just a gentle trickle."

"Bismillah," said Ammi softly.

"Bismillah," whispered Ilyas.

Ilyas copied Ammi, step by step.

First, hands. Rub, rub. Splish, splash!

Then mouth. Swish, swish. Splish, splash!

Then nose. A tiny sniff… and blow! Ilyas giggled. Splish, splash!

Then face. Cool water on his cheeks. Splish, splash!

Then arms, from his fingertips all the way up to the elbows. Right arm first, then left. Splish, splash!

Then head. Wet hands, gently over his hair. Wipe, wipe.

Then ears. Pointy fingers inside, thumbs behind. Wipe, wipe.

Then feet. Ammi lifted him up to the tap. Right foot, then left, up to his ankles. Wiggle, wiggle, in between the toes. Splish, splash!

Ilyas beamed and said all the steps: "Bismillah, hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, ears, feet! I did it, Ammi!"

"Masha Allah!" Ammi kissed his damp hair. "Allah tells us in the Quran to wash before we pray, and the Prophet ﷺ showed us how. Now we're fresh and ready to talk to Allah."

In the front room, by the window, Ammi rolled out her prayer mat. Ilyas stood beside her.

"Allahu Akbar," said Ammi.

"Allahu Akbar," whispered Ilyas.

Then Ilyas prayed, copying Ammi, just like before.

The house was quiet. Ilyas's face still felt cool and clean. Outside, the pink sky turned a deep, soft blue.

Later, tucked up in bed, Ilyas sang the steps again, very softly.

"Bismillah… hands… mouth… nose… face…"

His eyes grew heavy.

"Arms… head… ears… feet…"

Splish… splash…

And Ilyas was fast asleep.