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الوُضوء

Wudu

The ablution before prayer and worship

What is wudu?

Wudu (ablution) is a simple, beautiful washing that Muslims perform before prayer and before handling the Quran. It cleanses the body and settles the heart, a quiet moment of intention before standing in front of Allah. If you are new to it, the steps below walk you through every part, gently and in order.

The four essentials

These four are obligatory, named directly in the Quran: “...wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:6)

Washing the face
Washing the arms to the elbows
Wiping the head
Washing the feet to the ankles

How to perform wudu

  1. 1

    Intention & Bismillah

    Sunnah

    Make the intention in your heart to purify yourself for the sake of Allah, then begin by saying Bismillah (In the name of Allah).

  2. 2

    Wash the hands

    Sunnah

    Wash both hands up to the wrists, three times, beginning with the right.

  3. 3

    Rinse the mouth

    Sunnah

    Take water into your mouth and rinse it thoroughly, three times.

  4. 4

    Cleanse the nose

    Sunnah

    Gently draw a little water into the nostrils and blow it out, three times.

  5. 5

    Wash the face

    Obligatory

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

  6. 6

    Wash the arms

    Obligatory

    Wash each arm up to and including the elbow, the right then the left, three times. The elbow is easy to miss, so let the water cover it fully.

  7. 7

    Wipe the head

    Obligatory

    With wet hands, wipe over the head once, from the front to the back and back again, then wipe the ears. This is a wipe, not a wash.

  8. 8

    Wash the feet

    Obligatory

    Wash each foot up to and including the ankle, the right then the left, three times. Take care between the toes and around the heel.

The dua after wudu

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”

Whoever says this after completing wudu, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for them. (Sahih Muslim 234)

What breaks wudu

Once you have wudu, it stays valid until one of these happens, after which you simply make it again:

  • Using the toilet, or anything that exits from the private parts (urine or stool).
  • Passing wind.
  • Deep sleep, where you lose awareness of what is around you.
  • Losing consciousness, such as fainting or being intoxicated.

The schools of fiqh differ on a few other matters. When you are unsure, simply renew your wudu, it is always rewardable and never a burden.

May Allah accept your worship and purify your heart as you purify yourself.

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