Wudhu is an act of physical and spiritual purification, and the first essential step in the preparation for Salah (prayer) or reading the Qur’an.
Whilst not all parts are compulsory, it’s important to get into the habit of completing all steps. Try to be efficient with the amount of water you use, and remember whilst you’re doing wudhu, your sins are being washed away.
Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When a Muslim man performs ablution, his sins are removed from his hearing, his sight, his hands, and his legs. If he sits down, he will sit down forgiven.” (Musnad Ahmad 21680)
Below is our easy-to-follow guide to completing wudhu:
- Begin with making sincere intention. This doesn’t have to be done aloud, but more becoming mindful that you are about to perform wudhu. That this act is done with the intention of pleasing Allah.
- Say ‘Bismillah’ (In the Name of Allah)
- Wash both of your hands up to the wrists three times. When washing, remember not to miss any parts out – wash between the fingers and thumbs too.
- Rinse your mouth three times, swirling the water around to ensure it reaches all parts of the mouth.
- Rinse your nose three times. Cup water into your hand, partly inhale the water to ensure it goes into your nostrils, and then blow out. Use your left hand to remove the water from your nose if needed.
- Wash your entire face three times, from the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear. Ensure all parts of the face are washed, including eyebrows, under the nose and your lips. For men, you should wash the hair of your beard, by running your fingers through it.
- Now onto your arms. Begin with the right arm, ensuring you wash from the tips of your fingers to just above your elbow. Each arm must be washed three times.
- It is important that you remove anything that could prevent the water from reaching the skin such as paint, nail polish or make-up.
- Wet your hands and place your palms flat on top of your head (from your hairline), and wipe all the way to the back of your head, and then back to the front again. For women, they should wipe from the front of the head to the roots of the hair at the nape of the neck. This is called the act of Masah.
- Wipe your ears by putting your index fingers in your ears and wiping the back with your thumbs. This only needs to be completed once.
- Wash the feet three times up to the ankles, with the right foot first. Make sure to wipe in between all your toes with your little finger. Don’t forget your heels!
The Fardh Acts of Wudhu
There are five compulsory or obligatory acts in Wudhu, which must be completed in order for the ablution to be valid. These five acts are:
- Making Niyyah (intention) to perform the Wudhu
- Washing the entirety of the face once
- Washing both hands and arms up to the elbows once
- Masa’ (passing wet hands) over a quarter of the head once
- Washing both feet up to the ankles once
What Invalidates your Wudhu
There are certain things which nullify your Wudhu, and after which you are required to complete the ablution again in order to pray. These are:
- Discharge of bodily fluid from the private areas; including passing of urine, discharge, stool, faeces, or wind
- Flow of blood or pus from a wound, which falls away from it’s opening
- A mouthful of vomit
- Sleeping where you lose control of yourself i.e. a deep sleep, can no longer hear other people around you or if you were leaning on something, if that was removed and you did not notice
- Menstruation cycle
- Sexual intercourse
- Lose consciousness i.e. faint
- Loud laughter whilst praying
When performing either the wudu’ or ghusl, any substance which prevents water from reaching the parts to be washed must be removed. This includes nail polish, mascara and make-up.
We hope you find our guide to performing wudhu easy to understand.
May Allah accept our acts of worship, Ameen.
