How to Perform Wudu (Ablution) Step by Step

Allah commands believers who rise for prayer to wash the face and the arms up to the elbows, wipe the head, and wash the feet up to the ankles (Quran 5:6). The Prophet ﷺ also did further recommended acts, as described in the reports of Uthman and of Abdullah ibn Zayd (Sahih al-Bukhari 159 and 185). A common way to do wudu is:

• Make the intention in your heart and say Bismillah (in the name of Allah). The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools require the intention, while the Hanafi school regards it as a sunnah. Most scholars consider Bismillah recommended.
• Wash both hands up to the wrists, three times.
• Rinse your mouth, then sniff a little water into your nose and blow it out, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 159).
• Wash your whole face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
• Wash your right arm and then your left arm, from the fingertips up to and including the elbow, three times each.
• Wipe your head with wet hands, moving them from the front to the back and returning (Sahih al-Bukhari 185). Then wipe your ears (Jami at-Tirmidhi 36).
• Wash your right foot and then your left foot up to and including the ankles, three times each.

Washing each part once is enough for a valid wudu, and the Prophet ﷺ also washed twice and three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 157). Scholars differ on whether rinsing the mouth and nose is obligatory (the Hanbali view) or a sunnah (the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i view), so it is best never to skip it.

Wudu is cancelled by anything that comes out of the front or back private parts, such as urine, stool or passing wind. The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah does not accept the prayer of a person who has broken their wudu until they perform it again (Sahih al-Bukhari 135). Deep sleep and losing consciousness also cancel wudu, and sleep is named together with urine and stool in a report on wiping over socks (Jami at-Tirmidhi 96). Scholars differ about very light dozing, especially while sitting.

Scholars also differ about some other matters, such as flowing blood from a wound, touching the private parts, touching a woman, vomiting and eating camel meat. The schools give different answers, so if you follow a school of law, follow its view. If you are not sure, ask a qualified local scholar.

A doubt does not break wudu. The Prophet ﷺ taught that a person who imagines that something has happened should not leave the prayer until they hear a sound or smell something (Sahih al-Bukhari 137). If you are only unsure whether you lost your wudu, you may continue as you were.

Ghusl is washing the whole body. It is required after sexual intercourse (Sahih Muslim 348) or ejaculation (Sahih al-Bukhari 282), and when menstrual bleeding or postnatal bleeding has ended (Quran 5:6; Quran 2:222; Sahih al-Bukhari 228).

A common way, following the description of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is to make the intention, wash the hands and private parts, and do wudu. Then pour water over the head three times and wash the rest of the body, making sure water reaches everywhere (Sahih Muslim 316). Include rinsing the mouth and nose, because some schools make them obligatory in ghusl.

The great majority of scholars allow a person to wipe over leather socks (khuffayn) instead of washing the feet. The socks must be put on after a complete wudu, while the feet are clean. The Prophet ﷺ told a man who tried to remove his socks, "Leave them, for I put my feet into them while they were clean" (Sahih al-Bukhari 206).

The permission lasts for one day and night for a resident, and three days and nights for a traveller (Sahih Muslim 276). The Maliki school also has a view that sets no time limit. Scholars differ on other details, such as whether thin cloth socks count. Ask a qualified scholar if your case is unclear.

• Leaving a dry spot, especially on the heels, elbows or ankles. The Prophet ﷺ warned, "Woe to the heels from the Fire" (Sahih al-Bukhari 165).
• Wasting water. The Prophet ﷺ used to make wudu with about a mudd (a double handful) of water (Sahih al-Bukhari 201). Use only what you need and do not rush.
• Wearing waterproof paint, nail polish or a thick layer of cream that stops water from reaching the skin.
• Washing in the wrong order, or skipping a part.
• Worrying too much. If you keep doubting without a clear reason, stay calm and continue.

The Prophet ﷺ said that purification is half of faith (Sahih Muslim 223), and Allah loves those who keep themselves clean (Quran 2:222).