Prophet Ebrahim (Abraham)

How to Perform Wudu (Ablution) for Prayer

The Steps

Note: The intention (Niyyah) is made in the heart. It is not spoken out loud, but is a sincere resolve to perform Wudu for the purpose of prayer and purity.

Step 1: Begin with the Name of Allah

Say: "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah).

Step 2: Wash the Hands

Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, ensuring water reaches between the fingers.

Step 3: Rinse the Mouth

Take water into your mouth with your right hand and rinse thoroughly three times.

Step 4: Clean the Nose

Inhale water into the nostrils (using the right hand) and then expel it (using the left hand) three times.

Step 5: Wash the Face

The boundaries of the face are from the usual hairline of the head to the bottom of the chin in length, and from one ear to the other in width. All of this area must be washed entirely, including both light hair and the underlying skin.

An exception is made for the beard (the thick hair growing on the chin or the sides of the jaw): only its exterior is washed.

The 'Āriḍ (side of the jaw) is the hair between the beard and the 'Idhār (sideburns). The 'Idhār is the hair growing adjacent to the ear.

Step 6: Wash the Arms

The hands must be washed, starting from the tips of the fingers up to and including the elbows. The elbow is the bone that connects the forearm to the upper arm.
Additionally, any hair on the arms must be washed, even if it is thick or long.

Step 7: Wipe the Head (Masah)

With wet hands, wipe the entire head once. Start from the front, move to the back, and then return to the front.

Step 8: Wipe the Ears

Using your index fingers, wipe the inside of both ears. Using your thumbs, wipe the back of the ears. This is done once with fresh water (not the water already used for the head).

Step 9: Wash the Feet

Wash the right foot up to the ankle three times, ensuring water goes between the toes. Then wash the left foot three times.

Click here to watch how to perform Wudu

Wudu conditions

Several conditions must be met for ablution to be valid — and a condition is something without which a matter cannot be complete, yet is not inherently part of its essence. Scholars have detailed these conditions, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Islam: Because ablution is an act of worship.

2. Discernment: Ablution is not valid if performed by an insane person or a child without discernment, as they are not considered legally competent for acts of worship. Discernment refers to the age at which an individual can distinguish between what is beneficial and what is harmful.

3. Knowledge of the Obligatory Nature of Ablution: Ablution is not valid if one doubts its obligation or believes that any of its obligatory elements are merely recommended.

4. Purification from Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding: These states contradict the essence of ritual purity.

5. Pure Water (Ṭahūr): The water used must be pure for ablution to be valid.

6. Absence of Barriers Preventing Water from Reaching the Skin: If anything on a limb prevents water from reaching the skin — such as substances forming a layer (e.g., paint, adhesive) or dirt under the nails — the ablution is invalid. However, the residue of henna is not an issue, as it does not obstruct water from reaching the skin.

7. Flowing Water over the Limb: Water must fully cover the limb.

8. Intention (Niyyah): This is considered a condition only in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence.

9. Entry of Prayer Time: This condition applies specifically to those in a state of continuous minor or major ritual impurity.

10. Immediate Succession (Muwālāt): This refers to performing the actions of ablution in sequence without significant delay, or — for those in a state of continuous impurity — performing the prayer immediately after ablution.

In summary, ablution is valid only when the following conditions are met: Islam, discernment, knowledge of its obligation, purification from menstruation and postpartum bleeding, use of pure water, absence of barriers preventing water from reaching the skin, intention (according to some schools), entry of prayer time (for those with continuous impurity), and immediate succession.

Hateful Things to do during Ablution

- Wasting water during ablution (wudu).
- Thoroughly combing the beard for one in the state of ihram for Hajj or Umrah.
- Washing the limbs more than three times (during ablution).
- Seeking someone else’s help in washing the limbs during ablution except for a valid excuse.

Things that Invalidate Wudu

Ablution (wudu) is invalidated by several nullifiers – these are the reasons that terminate it. A state of minor impurity (hadath) is a legal state that occurs in the body and prevents the validity of prayer. The nullifiers are:

Anything that exits from either of the two private parts (the front or the back): Whether it is wind, feces, urine, blood, or other substances that exit, except for semen. This is because semen necessitates the greater purification (ghusl), so it does not necessitate the lesser one (wudu). It must be the person's own semen; if it is someone else's semen, then wudu is invalidated.

Loss of consciousness/intellect: That is, the loss of discernment, whether through sleep, insanity, intoxication, or fainting – except for light sleep while sitting firmly in place for one who was already in a state of wudu.

Skin-to-skin contact between a man and a woman: That is, between an adult male and an adult female, who would normally arouse desire in those of sound disposition, and there is no prohibition of marriage between them due to blood relation, marriage ties, or breastfeeding, and there is no barrier. In this case, the wudu of both the one who touches and the one touched is invalidated. It is not invalidated by contact of non-skin parts like nails or hair, nor by contact between two men or two women, nor by touch over a barrier, nor by touching a young boy or girl, nor by touching a mahram (unmarriageable relative) due to blood, breastfeeding, or marriage ties. 

Touching the private part: That is, touching the penis of a male or the vulva of a female, whether by himself or by another's, with the palm or fingers. This invalidates the wudu of the one who touches, but not the wudu of the one touched (unless contact also occurred). 

Vomiting: Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents.

Washing the deceased: Washing a deceased person invalidates wudu, whether the deceased is young or old, male or female.

These are the matters that invalidate wudu, which have been explained. A Muslim must know them precisely in order to ensure the validity of their ablution.

Things that should be on Wudu when Performing

Prayer and similar acts, such as the Friday sermon for the preacher.
Circumambulation of the Kaaba (Tawaf).
Touching the Qur'an or carrying it. It is permissible to carry it along with other belongings if the intention is not to carry the Qur'an alone. 

Ablution (wudu) is obligatory for several matters, which are: touching the Qur'an, circumambulating the Kaaba, and prayer. Therefore, whoever intends to perform any one of these acts must perform wudu beforehand.

Water Suitable for Wudu

1. Purifying Water (Al-Ma' Al-Tahur): This is pure, unrestricted water not qualified by any attribute. It is pure in itself and purifies other things. It branches into seven types of water, which are:  
- Seawater.
- Dew water.

- Snow.

- River water.

- Spring water.

- Well water.

- Rainwater.

2. Water Mixed with Pure Substances (Al-Ma' Al-Mukhallit bi-l-Tahirat): This is water that has been mixed with a pure substance, such as saffron or soap, provided the name "water" is not stripped from it. It is pure in itself and purifies other things. If the name "water" is no longer applied to it, then it becomes pure but does not purify other things, meaning it is not suitable for wudu.