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How to Perform Wuḍūʾ — Step by Step
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةً بِغَيْرِ طُهُورٍ
"Allāh does not accept a prayer without purification" (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 223). Wuḍūʾ is the ablution that prepares a Muslim for prayer. Here is how it is performed, step by step, according to the Sunnah.
- 01
Make the intention (niyyah)
Intend in your heart that you are performing wuḍūʾ to purify yourself for the worship of Allāh. The intention is not spoken aloud; its place is the heart.
- 02
Say 'Bismillāh' and wash the hands
Begin in the name of Allāh, then wash both hands three times up to the wrists, rubbing between the fingers.
- 03
Rinse the mouth and nose
Take water into the mouth and rinse (al-maḍmaḍah), then sniff water into the nose and blow it out (al-istinshāq) — three times each, ideally with a single handful.
- 04
Wash the face
Wash the entire face three times — from where the hair normally begins down to the chin, and from ear to ear. Run wet fingers through the beard if it is thick.
- 05
Wash the arms to the elbows
Wash the right arm from the fingertips up to and including the elbow, three times. Then do the same with the left arm.
- 06
Wipe the head and ears
Wet your hands with fresh water and wipe the head once — from the front to the back and returning. Then wipe the inside and outside of the ears once with your index fingers and thumbs.
- 07
Wash the feet
Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, passing wet fingers between the toes. Then the left foot in the same way.
What breaks wuḍūʾ?
The nullifiers include: anything exiting the private parts, deep sleep, and the emission of wind. There is also a difference of opinion on matters such as touching the private parts and eating camel meat — one of the many details covered in our course.
Obligatory vs. recommended
The pillars of wuḍūʾ are found in Sūrat al-Mā'idah (5:6): washing the face and arms, wiping the head, and washing the feet. Washing three times, rinsing the mouth and nose, and wiping the ears are beloved Sunnah acts.