Ablution (Wudu) is the Islamic procedure for cleansing certain parts of the body before performing prayer (salah) and other acts of worship. It is a spiritual and physical purification.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to performing Wudu (Ablution):
🕋 1. Make the Intention (Niyyah)
- Internally intend that you are doing wudu for the sake of Allah and to prepare for prayer.
- You don’t need to say it aloud.
💧 2. Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah)
- Say: بِسْمِ اللهِ (Bismillah)
- This should be said before starting the actual washing.
✋ 3. Wash the Hands (3 times)
- Wash your right hand up to the wrist 3 times, then your left hand the same way.
👄 4. Rinse the Mouth (3 times)
- Use your right hand to take water into your mouth.
- Swirl it around and spit it out, 3 times.
👃 5. Clean the Nose (3 times)
- Sniff water into your nostrils with your right hand and blow it out using your left hand, 3 times.
👤 6. Wash the Face (3 times)
- From the forehead to the chin and from ear to ear.
💪 7. Wash the Arms (3 times)
- Wash your right arm from the fingertips up to and including the elbow 3 times.
- Then do the same for your left arm.
🧠 8. Wipe the Head (Masah) (1 time)
- Wet your hands and wipe over your head once, from front to back and back to front.
👂 9. Wipe the Ears (1 time)
- With the same wet hands, use your index fingers to clean inside the ears and the thumbs behind the ears.
🦶 10. Wash the Feet (3 times)
- Wash the right foot, including between the toes, up to the ankles 3 times.
- Then do the same for the left foot.
✅ 11. Say the Du’a After Wudu:
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā-Allāh, wahdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhū wa rasūluh.
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone; He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
Some add this extra part (optional, but recommended):
Allāhumma aj‘alnī mina al-tawwābīn, waj‘alnī mina al-mutaṭahhirīn.
“O Allah, make me among those who repent and purify themselves.”
💡 Notes:
- Wudu is broken by things like: using the toilet, deep sleep, passing gas, etc.
- You must have wudu before praying (salah).
- You don’t need to renew wudu for every prayer unless it has been invalidated.