Wudu (وُضوء), known in English as ablution, is the Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body before prayer (salah), touching the Quran, and performing tawaf. It is one of the most fundamental acts of worship in Islam, mentioned directly in the Quran in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:6).

This guide covers the complete wudu procedure — the obligatory acts (fard), the recommended sunnah acts, the supplications, and what nullifies your wudu.

Quranic foundation: "O you who believe! When you intend to offer salah, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles." — Al-Ma'idah 5:6

The Obligatory Acts of Wudu (Fard)

These four acts are obligatory according to the Quran. If any one of them is omitted, the wudu is invalid and must be repeated.

  1. Washing the face — from the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear
  2. Washing both arms — from fingertips to and including the elbows
  3. Wiping the head — at least a quarter of the head (Hanafi view) or the full head (Maliki/Hanbali view)
  4. Washing both feet — from toes to and including the ankles

Step-by-Step Wudu Guide

Below are the complete sunnah steps of wudu as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Each step should be performed three times unless otherwise noted.

1

Make the Intention (Niyyah)

Make a sincere intention in your heart to purify yourself for the sake of Allah. Niyyah does not need to be spoken aloud — it is an act of the heart.

2

Say Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ Bismillah — "In the name of Allah"

Begin by saying Bismillah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no wudu for the one who does not mention the name of Allah over it." (Abu Dawud)

3

Wash Both Hands (3 times)

Wash both hands thoroughly up to and including the wrists, making sure water reaches between the fingers. Begin with the right hand.

4

Rinse the Mouth (3 times)

Take water in your right hand, rinse your mouth thoroughly, and spit it out. Move the water around to reach all areas. During Ramadan while fasting, avoid letting the water go too far back.

5

Rinse the Nose (3 times)

Sniff water gently into the nostrils with the right hand, then blow it out with the left. This is a sunnah act but strongly recommended.

6

Wash the Face (3 times) — Fard

Wash the entire face from the hairline down to the chin, and from one earlobe to the other. If you have a beard, pass wet fingers through it (khilal al-lihya).

7

Wash Both Arms to the Elbows (3 times) — Fard

Wash the right arm from fingertips to and including the elbow, then repeat for the left arm. Pass wet fingers between your fingers (khilal al-asabi').

8

Wipe the Head (once) — Fard

Wet both hands and wipe from the front of the head to the back, then back to the front. According to the Maliki and Hanbali madhabs, the entire head should be wiped. The Hanafi madhab requires at least a quarter. This is done once, not three times.

9

Wipe the Ears (once)

Using the wet hands from the head wipe, insert the index fingers into the ears and wipe the outer ear with the thumbs. This is a sunnah act.

10

Wash Both Feet to the Ankles (3 times) — Fard

Wash the right foot from toes to and including the ankle, passing wet fingers between the toes (khilal al-asabi'). Begin with the right foot, then the left.

The Dua After Wudu

After completing wudu, raise your gaze to the sky and recite:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illAllah, wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs wudu well and then says [this dua], the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever of them he wishes." (Muslim)

What Invalidates Wudu?

The following acts nullify your wudu and require you to repeat the purification before praying:

💨 Passing wind (gas)
🚽 Answering the call of nature (urination or defecation)
😴 Deep sleep (losing consciousness)
🩸 Flowing blood or pus from the body (according to Hanafi madhab)
🤢 Vomiting a mouthful (Hanafi view)
😶 Loss of consciousness or fainting

Note on madhab differences: There are some differences between the four schools of Islamic law (madhahib) on what breaks wudu. For example, the Maliki and Shafi'i schools hold that deep sleep breaks wudu only if it is lying down. The Hanafi school has a broader definition of what constitutes bleeding. Use DeenPal's Hakim mode to explore these differences in detail.

Key Sunnah Acts of Wudu

  • Beginning with Bismillah
  • Using the miswak (tooth stick) before or during wudu
  • Washing each part three times (the fard is once)
  • Starting with the right side before the left
  • Not wasting water (even when performing wudu at a river)
  • Reciting the dua after wudu
  • Performing wudu consecutively without pausing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Missing spots between fingers and toes — water must reach every part
  • Not washing up to and including the elbows/ankles — the joints themselves must be washed
  • Wiping the head more than once with fresh water — the head is wiped once with the same wetness
  • Using impure water — water must be pure (tahir) and in sufficient quantity
  • Wearing nail polish — most scholars agree that nail polish prevents water from reaching the nail, invalidating wudu

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