Performing wudu is the first, essential step of Salah and is itself an act of worship, that’s why it’s important to make sure it’s done correctly. Make sure not to waste water and know that your wudu washes away minor sins.
Whether you are doing wudu for the first time or just want to refresh your memory, our step-by-step guide makes it easy.
1. Begin by saying ‘Bismillah’.
2. Wash your hands up to the wrists thoroughly (first right hand three times then left hand three times)
3. Rinse your mouth three times, swirling the water around and rinse your nose three times, blowing the water out using the left hand to remove the water from your nose. *(The secret of this sunnah is that it lets you check if the water is pure and clean enough to use for wudu! )
4. Make your intention that you are now performing the fard (obligatory) actions of wudu.
5. Wash your face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear, making sure the whole face, eyebrows, under the nose and lips are washed. A man should wash the hair of his beard. If his beard is thin, he should make sure water reaches the skin, and if it is thick he should wash the surface and run his wet fingers through it.
6. Wash your arms and hands from your fingertips up to your elbows (first right arm three times follwed by left). It is essential to remove anything that could prevent the water from reaching the skin i.e. dough, mud, paint, nail polish etc.
7. Wipe your head starting with your hands at the front of your head, bringing them to the back of your head and then back to the front again. With regards to a woman’s hair, she should wipe it from the front of her head to the roots of the hair at the nape of her neck. She does not have to wipe the entire length of her hair.
8. Wipe your ears by putting your index fingers in your ears and wiping the back with your thumbs. Its preferable to use fresh water for this.
9. Wash your feet (first right feet three times with left hand fingers entering right feet fingers (so that water enters in between the fingers) followed by left feet three times) up to the ankles, making sure to wipe in between your toes with your little finger. Don’t forget the back of your ankles.
10. Finish your wudu with the dua (shahada) –
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Pronunciation: Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuuluhu
Translation: I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. (Sunan an-Nasa’i 148) [Sahih]
Performing Salat With One Wudu(Masah)
Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu`ba(R): “I was in the company of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) on one of the journeys and he went out to answer the call of nature (and after he finished) I poured water and he performed ablution; he washed his face, forearms and passed his wet hand over his head and over the two Khuff (socks made from thick fabric or leather).” (Bukhari 182, Bukhari 203) [Sahih]
One must wear them while they are in a state of purification through Wudu (ablution).
Sulaiman bin Buraidah(R) narrated that his father said: “The Prophet would perform Wudu for every Salat. So during the year of the Conquest, he performed all of the prayers with one Wudu, and he wiped over his Khuff (traditional leather socks). So Umar said, ‘You did something that you have not done before?’ He replied: “I did it on purpose.” (Tirmidhi 61) [Sahih]
The Prophet (ﷺ) set a time limit of three days and three nights for the traveler, and one day and one night for the resident. (Nasa’i 128, 129) [Sahih]
Khuzaimah bin Thabit narrated: “The Prophet was asked about wiping over the Khuff. So he said: “Three (days) for the traveler, and one day for the resident.” (Tirmidhi 95) [Sahih]
The Reward For The One Who Performs Wudu’ As Commanded
‘Amr bin ‘Abasah said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! How is Wudu’ done?’
He(ﷺ) said: ‘As for Wudu’, when you perform Wudu’, and you wash your hands to clean them, your sins come out from between your fingers and fingertips. When you rinse your mouth and nostrils, and wash your face and hands up to the elbows, and wipe your head, and wash your feet up to the ankles, you are cleansed of all your sins. When you prostrate your face to Allah, may He be exalted, you emerge from your sins like the day your mother bore you.'”
Abu Umamah said: “I said: ‘O ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah! Look at what you are saying! Was all of that given in one sitting? He said: ‘By Allah, I have grown old, my appointed time is near and I am not so poor that I should tell lies about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I heard it with my own ears and understood it in my heart from the Messenger of Allah.'” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 147) [Sahih]