‘Why has this guy got his foot in the sink?’: challenges, encounters and everyday geographies of practicing wudu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wudu, an ablution performed (often multiple times) daily which is integral to the spiritual lives of many, has been somewhat neglected from the analysis of the everyday experiences and geographies of Muslims. The lack of general and academic knowledge around this practice can lead to misunderstandings amongst non-Muslims which may reinforce negative attitudes towards the Muslim population. This paper draws on questionnaires and interviews with Muslims, chaplains and organizations to explore the experience of wudu in public spaces such as educational institutions. It explores the experience of performing wudu in public spaces and contributes to existing Muslim geographies in three crucial ways. Firstly, it examines how wudu ablution can destabilize existing social relations. As an often-hidden act in which Muslims tactically use secular spaces for religious purposes, wudu refracts social anxiety and alienation into discourses of etiquette and the messiness of spaces. Secondly, it identifies the challenges related to performing wudu in public within dominant hegemonies of secular and non-Muslim spaces. Finally, the paper considers how the recent COVID-19 pandemic has modified and reinforced the meanings and experiences of wudu amongst its participants.