Proper and Sunnah way of Performing Wudu / Ablution

HOW TO PERFORM WUDU (ABLUTION)

Stages of Wudu

Hadith Reference(s)

1

Declare the intention for Wudu in your heart

Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) himself explained in the Hadith which is narrated by Umar (R.A.), Verily the actions are by intention and there is for everyone only what he intended.(Sahih Bukhari: 54)

2

Say “Bismillah”  (In the Name of Allah).

Abu Saeed (R.A.) said that Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “There is no ablution for one who does not mention the Name of Allah (before doing it)." (Ibn Majah: 397)

3

Wash the right hand up to and including the wrists. Make sure to while rub and rub between the fingers of the hand. And thus make sure no part of the hand is left dry. (Three times)

Then do the same with the left hand. (also three times)

Abd Khair (R.A.) said "I saw Ali call for a chair and he sat down, then he called for water in a vessel and washed his hands three times …. Then he said: 'Whoever would like to see how the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed Wudu, this is his Wudu.” (Ibn Majah: 94)

4

Make a cup with the right hand then from this hand take water into your mouth and swirl it inside the mouth and then expel out of mouth. then sniff remaining water from the cupped right hand and sniff water into the nose and then blow the water out and using the left hand remove the water from your nose. Do this three times

Some people rinse the mouth first three times and then rinse the nose three times

However the first method is the most authentic.

Abd Khair (R.A.) said "I saw Ali call for a chair and he sat down, then he called for water in a vessel and ….. then he rinsed his mouth and nose with one hand, three times ….. Then he said: 'Whoever would like to see how the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed Wudu, this is his Wudu.” (Ibn Majah: 94)

5

Wash the face three times, from the hairline to the jawbone and chin, and from start of the ear to start of the ear 

A man should wash the hair of his beard  by taking a handful of water and entering it below his chin and rubbing it through his beard and passing the wet fingers through the beard.

Abd Khair (R.A.) said "I saw Ali call for a chair and he sat down, then he called for water in a vessel and ….. Then he washed his face three times, ….. Then he said: 'Whoever would like to see how the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed Wudu, this is his Wudu.” (Ibn Majah: 94)

Uthman (R.A.) said " The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed ablution and ran his fingers through his beard.” (Ibn Majah: 430)

6

Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow.  (Three times) 

The arm extends from the fingertips, including the nails, to the lower part of the upper arm. It is essential to remove anything stuck to the hands before washing them, such as dough, mud, paint, nail polish etc, that could prevent the water from reaching the skin

Do the same with the LEFT Arm (Three times)

 Abd Khair (R.A.) said "I saw Ali call for a chair and he sat down, then he called for water in a vessel and ….. Then he washed his face three times, and his hands three times ….. Then he said: 'Whoever would like to see how the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) performed Wudu, this is his Wudu.” (Ibn Majah: 94)

Nuaim bin Abdullah Al-Mujmir (R.A.) reported: “I saw Abu Huraira (R.A.) perform ablution. He washed his face and washed it well. He then washed his right hand including a portion of his arm. He then washed his left hand including a portion of his arm. ….. and then said: This is how I saw Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) perform his ablution. And (Abu Huraira) added that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had observed: You shall have your faces hands and feet bright on the Day of Resurrection because of your perfect ablution. He who can afford among you, let him increase the brightness of his forehead and that of hands and legs.” [Sahih Muslim: 246 (a)]

7

Wet your hands in water, Place both hands at the front of the head (beginning of hairline) and wipe the head backwards until you reach the nape.  Then bring them back to the front of the head (beginning of hairline). This is done once only

With regard to a woman’s hair, she should wipe it whether it is loose or braided from the front of her head to the roots of the hair at the nape and then bring forward as above, but she does not have to wipe the entire length of her hair.

Malik bin Anas (R.A.) narrated it from Amr bin Yahya (R.A.) who said: “He (S.A.W.) moved them (his hands) for wiping to the front of his head and then the nape of his neck, then bringing them back till he reached the place from which he had begun, after which he washed his feet.” [Sahih Muslim: 235 (c)] and (Sahih Bukhari: 185)

8

Clean the ears by inserting the tips of the index fingers into the ears. Twist them round the folds of the ears. Then wipe the back of the ears with your thumbs. From bottom of the ear upwards. (Once Only)

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that: “The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wiped his ears, putting his forefingers in his ears and wiping the back of them with his thumbs, so he wiped them inside and out.” (Ibn Majah: 439)

9

Wash the right feet up to and including the ankles. (Three Times)

You should enter the water between the toes with your little finger and then wash the foot (note not wipe feet but wash them) and make sure   you wash the sole of the foot and heals. Make sure no parts of the foot is left dry 

Wash the left feet same as the right foot also  three times.

Narrated by Abdullah bin Zaid (R.A.): “Once Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) came to us and we brought out water for him in a brass pot. He performed ablution thus: He washed his face thrice, and his forearms to the elbows twice, then passed his wet hands lightly over the head from front to rear and brought them to front again and washed his feet (up to the ankles).” (Sahih Bukhari: 197)

Abdullah bin Amr (R.A.) reported: “We returned from Makkah to Medinah with the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), and when we came to some water on the way, some of the people were in a hurry at the time of the afternoon prayer and performed ablution hurriedly; and when we reached them, their heels were dry, no water had touched them. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Woe to (dry) heels, because of Hell-fire. Make your ablution thorough. [Sahih Muslim: 241 (a)]

10

The Dua After Wudu / Ablution:

1-     After performing complete ablution, recite the following dua/supplication:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَريـكَ لَـهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّـداً عَبْـدُهُ وَرَسُـولُـهُ

Ashhadu an la ilaha illal-lahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa-ashhadu anna Muhammadan AAabduhu warasooluh.

Translation: I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

[Sahih Muslim: 234 (a)] and (Tirmidhi: 55)

The Dua After Wudu/Ablution:

2-     Following is another Dua which can be recited after performing ablution/wudu:

اَللَّهُـمَّ اجْعَلْنِـي مِنَ التَّـوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَـلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّـرِينَ.

Allahummaj-AAalnee minat-tawwabeena wajAAalnee minal-mutatahhireen.

Translation: O Allah, make me of those who return to You often in repentance and make me of those who remain clean and pure.

(Tirmidhi: 55)

11

Note. The water must also be pure (taahir), for impure (naajis) water cannot be used for wudoo’. One must also remove anything that could prevent water from reaching the skin and nails, such as nail polish.