How to perform wudu (ablution), step by step

What the schools agree on

Verse 6 of Surah Al-Ma'idah names four acts on which the schools agree: washing the face, washing the arms up to the elbows, passing wet hands over the head and washing the feet up to the ankles. Without wudu, the prayer is not valid.

What breaks it, for all the schools: whatever comes out of the natural passages (urine, stool, wind), deep sleep and loss of consciousness. After intimate relations or menstruation, it is the full bath (ghusl) that is required.

1. يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

   yā'ayyuha lladhīna 'āmanū 'idhā qumtum 'ila ṣ-ṣalāti faghsilū wujūhakum wa'aydiyakum 'ila l-marāfiqi wamsaḥū biru'ūsikum wa'arjulakum 'ila l-kaʿbayn | wa'in kuntum junuban faṭṭahharū | wa'in kuntum marḍā 'aw ʿalā safarin 'aw jā'a 'aḥadum minkum mina l-ghā'iṭi 'aw lāmastumu n-nisā'a falam tajidū mā'an fatayammamū ṣaʿīdan ṭayyiban famsaḥū biwujūhikum wa'aydīkum minh | mā yurīdu llāhu liyajʿala ʿalaykum min ḥarajiw walākiy yurīdu liyuṭahhirakum waliyutimma niʿmatahū ʿalaykum laʿallakum tashkurūn

   O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janābah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allāh does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

   Al-Ma'idah 5:6

Wudu, step by step

Each part is preferably washed three times; once is enough. You start with the right, and go on without a long pause.

1. The intentionan-niyyah

   In your heart, you intend to make wudu for the prayer. Saying the tasmiyah (“in the name of Allah”) at the start is recommended; the Hanbalis require it when you remember.

2. The hands

   You wash both hands up to the wrists, passing the water between the fingers.

3. The mouthal-madmadah

   You take water in your right hand, rinse your mouth, then spit it out.

4. The noseal-istinshaq

   You draw a little water into your nose, then blow it out with the help of your left hand.

5. The face

   You wash the whole face, from the hairline to the chin, and from one ear to the other.

6. The arms

   You wash the right arm, from the hand up to and including the elbow, then the left arm.

7. The headal-mash

   You pass your wet hands over your head, from the forehead to the nape of the neck, then back to the forehead. The extent required differs between the schools.

8. The ears

   You pass your index fingers inside your ears and your thumbs behind them, with the water left on your hands or with fresh water: the schools differ.

9. The feet

   You wash the right foot up to and including the ankle, between the toes and without forgetting the heel, then the left foot.

10. After wudu

    You say the testimony of faith, as taught in Sahih Muslim 234; many add the request reported in Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 55, whose chain is debated (sahih according to al-Albani). Then you may pray two rak‘ahs.

    What is said

    أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

    Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illâ Llâhu wahdahu lâ sharîka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasûluh. Allâhumma-j'alnî mina t-tawwâbîna wa-j'alnî mina l-mutatahhirîn

    I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah, make me among those who constantly repent and among those who purify themselves.

The four schools, all valid

For the Hanbalis, the intention is a condition of wudu rather than one of its acts: it is still required.

And then, the prayer

After wudu, two rak‘ahs are recommended: any surah is fine, a short one is enough. For the prayer itself, the positions page details what is recited.

• Short surahs for salah, with their length
• Al-Fatiha: text, transliteration and audio
• What to recite in each position, from takbir to salam