Wudu (Ablution)

الوُضُوء

Wudu is the Islamic ritual purification performed before prayer. It involves washing specific body parts with clean water in a prescribed manner.

Wudu is a prerequisite for Salah. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No Salah is accepted without purification.' (Sahih Muslim 224)

Clean water (tahir)Intention (niyyah) in the heartNo impurities on the body

Step-by-Step

Make Intention

النِّيَّة

Begin with the intention in your heart to perform wudu for the sake of Allah. Say Bismillah:

بِسْمِ اللهِ

Bismillah

"In the name of Allah"

Intention is made in the heart, not spoken aloud

Face the Qibla if possible

Wash Hands

غَسْل اليَدَيْن

Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, starting with the right hand. Make sure water reaches between the fingers.

Remove rings and watches

Wash between fingers

Start with the right hand

Rinse Mouth

المَضْمَضَة

Take water in the right hand, rinse the mouth thoroughly three times, swirling the water around.

Use the right hand to take water

Swirl water around the entire mouth

Spit out the water completely

Clean Nose

الاِسْتِنْشَاق

Clean nostrils with water three times using the right hand, then blow it out using the left hand.

Take water in right hand and gently sniff it into nostrils

Use left hand to blow out and clean the nose

While fasting, be extra careful not to let water go too deep into the nose

Wash Face

غَسْل الوَجْه

Wash the entire face three times, from the hairline to below the chin, and from ear to ear.

Include the area under the eyebrows

Water should reach all facial hair

Cover forehead to chin, ear to ear

Wash Arms

غَسْل اليَدَيْن إِلَى المِرْفَقَيْن

Wash the right arm from fingertips to elbow three times, then the left arm in the same manner.

Include the elbows

Start from fingertips

Ensure water covers entire arm

Wipe Head

مَسْح الرَّأْس

Wet your hands and wipe the entire head once, starting from the forehead to the back of the head and back.

Use both hands

Wipe from front to back and back to front

Done only once, not three times

Clean Ears

مَسْح الأُذُنَيْن

Using wet fingers, wipe the inside of both ears with the index fingers and the outside with the thumbs.

Insert index fingers into ear openings

Wipe behind ears with thumbs

Use same water from wiping head

Wash Feet

غَسْل القَدَمَيْن

Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left foot. Ensure water reaches between the toes.

Include the ankles

Wash between all toes

Start with the right foot

Complete with Dua

الدُّعَاء

After completing wudu, recite the following supplication:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger"

Raise your gaze towards the sky

The Prophet (ﷺ) said the gates of Paradise open for one who perfects wudu

References

• Sahih Bukhari 159: Description of the Prophet's wudu

• Sahih Muslim 224: No prayer without purification

• Sunan Abu Dawud 101: Complete description of wudu

• Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:6): Quranic verse on wudu

How to Pray Salah