الوضوء
Wudu (ablution)
Wudu is required for the prayer: the prayer of someone who has lost their wudu is not accepted until they perform it again (Sahih al-Bukhari 135). These steps follow the Prophet's wudu as described by his Companions.
What is required
Scholars agree on the four acts named in the Quran: washing the face, washing the arms up to and including the elbows, wiping the head, and washing the feet up to and including the ankles (Quran 5:6). The Shafi'i school adds the intention and keeping the order; the Hanbali school adds the order and continuity and counts rinsing the mouth and nose as part of washing the face; the Maliki school adds the intention, continuity and rubbing; the Hanafi school treats the four acts as the only obligations. The schools also differ on how much of the head must be wiped. Everything else below is Sunnah.
Step by step
- 1
Intention
النية
Intend in your heart to perform wudu for the prayer; it does not need to be said aloud.
Actions are judged by their intentions (Sahih al-Bukhari 1).
Sahih al-Bukhari 1 - 2
Say Bismillah
التسمية
Begin with the name of Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that there is no wudu for one who does not mention Allah's name over it (Sunan Abi Dawud 101); most scholars regard saying it as Sunnah, and the Hanbali school as obligatory when one remembers.
Before ablution
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismil-lah.
In the name of Allah.
Abu Dawud; Ibn Majah; Ahmad; see Irwa' al-Ghalil 1/122Sunan Abi Dawud 101 - 3
Wash the hands
غسل الكفين
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, between the fingers too.
The Companions described the Prophet ﷺ beginning his wudu by washing his hands three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 159).
Sahih al-Bukhari 159 - 4
Rinse the mouth and nose
المضمضة والاستنشاق
Rinse the mouth, then draw water into the nose and blow it out, three times.
Rinse the mouth, and draw water into the nose and blow it out, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 159; Sahih al-Bukhari 185).
Sahih al-Bukhari 159 Sahih al-Bukhari 185 - 5
Wash the face
غسل الوجه
Wash the whole face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
Washing the face is the first act commanded in the verse of wudu (Quran 5:6). Men with a thick beard run wet fingers through it.
- 6
Wash the arms
غسل اليدين إلى المرفقين
Wash the right arm from the fingertips up to and including the elbow three times, then the left.
Begin with the right, as the Prophet ﷺ liked to begin with the right in washing and other matters (Sahih al-Bukhari 168; Quran 5:6).
Quran 5:6 Sahih al-Bukhari 168 - 7
Wipe the head
مسح الرأس
Wipe the head once with wet hands, from the front to the back of the head and back again.
Pass the wet hands from the forehead to the nape of the neck and bring them back to the front (Sahih al-Bukhari 185).
Sahih al-Bukhari 185 - 8
Wipe the ears
مسح الأذنين
Wipe the inside of the ears with the index fingers and the outside with the thumbs.
Wipe inside the ears with the index fingers and behind them with the thumbs (Sunan an-Nasa'i 102; Sunan Abi Dawud 135).
Sunan an-Nasa'i 102 Sunan Abi Dawud 135 - 9
Wash the feet
غسل الرجلين إلى الكعبين
Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left, and between the toes.
Make sure water reaches between the toes and over the heels (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 39; Quran 5:6).
Quran 5:6 Jami' at-Tirmidhi 39 - 10
Testify after wudu
الشهادة بعد الوضوء
Bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Whoever performs wudu well and then says the testimony will have the eight gates of Paradise opened for him (Sahih Muslim 234).
The testimony after ablution
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illal-lahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa-ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʿabduhu warasooluh.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Muslim 1/209Make me among the repentant
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
Allahummaj-ʿalnee minat-tawwabeena wajʿalnee minal-mutatahhireen.
O Allah, make me of those who return to You often in repentance and make me of those who remain clean and pure.
at-Tirmidhi 1/78; see Sahih at-Tirmidhi 1/18Glory be to You, O Allah (after ablution)
سُبْحانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Subhanakal-lahumma wabihamdika ashhadu an la ilaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa-atoobu ilayk.
How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You, I seek Your forgiveness and turn in repentance to You.
an-Nasa'i, 'Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah p. 173; see Irwa' al-Ghalil 1/135, 2/94Sahih Muslim 234
Good to know
- Washing each part once is valid; twice or three times is Sunnah. Do not waste water.
- Wudu is broken by anything that leaves the front or back passage (including wind), deep sleep and loss of consciousness. Scholars differ on others, such as touching the private parts, touching the opposite sex, bleeding, vomiting and eating camel meat.