◈ Full Step-by-Step Procedure of Sunnah Wudu ◈
➊ Intention (Niyyah)
Begin the wudu by making intention in the heart to perform wudu.
It is not necessary to verbally express the intention — internal resolve is sufficient.
➋ Saying "Bismillah" at the Beginning
It is necessary to say “Bismillah” at the start of wudu, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Perform wudu by saying Bismillah.”
(Nasā’ī, al-Ṭahārah, Bāb al-Tasmiyah ‘inda al-Wuḍū’, 87; Ibn Khuzaymah: 441. Imām Nawawī graded its chain as sound.)
Only “Bismillah” is proven from the Sunnah; adding “al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm” is not correct.The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“The wudu of the one who does not say Bismillah at the beginning is invalid.”
(Abū Dāwūd, al-Ṭahārah, Bāb al-Tasmiyah ‘alā al-Wuḍū’: 101. Declared ḥasan by al-Mundhirī based on supporting evidence.)
✔ If someone forgets to say Bismillah and remembers during wudu, it is sufficient to say it then — no need to repeat the wudu.
➌ Starting from the Right Side
Sayyidah Umm ‘Aṭiyyah رضي الله عنها narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Start from the right side and from the parts of wudu.”
(Bukhārī: 761; Muslim: 939)
The Prophet ﷺ liked to begin from the right in all actions — whether wearing shoes, combing hair, purification, or performing wudu.
(Bukhārī, al-Wuḍū’, Bāb al-Tayammun fī al-Wuḍū’, 861; Muslim, al-Ṭahārah: 862)
➍ Washing the Hands
The Prophet ﷺ washed both hands three times.
(Bukhārī, al-Wuḍū’, Bāb al-Wuḍū’ Thalāthan Thalāthan, 951; Muslim: 622)
➎ Rinsing the Mouth and Nose, and Doing Khilāl
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Complete the wudu, clean between the fingers, and rinse the nose thoroughly — except if you are fasting.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 241; Tirmidhī: 38. Graded ṣaḥīḥ by Tirmidhī, al-Ḥākim 1/174, and Nawawī.)
➏ One Handful for Mouth and Nose
The Prophet ﷺ used one handful of water — half for rinsing the mouth, and half for the nose, then blew out the nose with his left hand.
He repeated this three times.
(Bukhārī: 191, 199; Muslim: 532)
➐ Washing the Face
The Prophet ﷺ washed his face three times.
(Bukhārī: 158; Muslim: 532)
➑ Combing Through the Beard
The Prophet ﷺ would perform khilāl (combing) through the beard.
(Tirmidhī: 31. Authenticated by Ibn Ḥibbān and Ibn Khuzaymah)
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“My Lord has commanded me to do this.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 141)
➒ Washing the Arms Including Elbows
The Prophet ﷺ washed his right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then did the same for the left arm.
(Bukhārī: 193, Muslim: 622)
➓ Wiping the Head
The Prophet ﷺ wiped his head by moving both hands from the front to the back and back to the front.
(Bukhārī: 185; Muslim: 532)
✔ The Prophet ﷺ performed the head wipe only once.
(Bukhārī: 168; Muslim: 532)
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān رضي الله عنه wiped his head three times and said:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do this.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 107)
⓫ Wiping the Ears
The Prophet ﷺ inserted his index fingers into his ears, and used his thumbs to wipe behind the ears.
(Ibn Mājah: 394; Tirmidhī: 36; Ibn Khuzaymah 1/77, ḥadīth 141. All declared it authentic.)
⓬ Washing the Feet
The Prophet ﷺ washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, then the left foot three times.
(Bukhārī: 193; Muslim: 622)
⓭ Khilāl of Fingers and Toes
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you perform wudu, do khilāl between the fingers of the hands and feet.”
(Tirmidhī: 39; Ibn Mājah: 744. Tirmidhī graded it ḥasan.)
Sayyiduna al-Mustawrid bin Shaddād رضي الله عنه said:
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ pass his little finger between his toes during wudu.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 148; Tirmidhī: 40. Imām Mālik graded it ḥasan.)
⓮ Sprinkling Water After Urination
Sayyiduna Ḥakam bin Sufyān رضي الله عنه reports:
“When the Prophet ﷺ relieved himself and made wudu, he would sprinkle water over his private part.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 166; Nasā’ī: 135)
⓯ Wiping Over Bandages or Plasters
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما said:
“If there is a bandage on a wound, then wipe over the bandage and wash the surrounding area.”
(Al-Sunan al-Kubrā by Bayhaqī 1/822. Imām Bayhaqī declared it authentic.)
❖ Important Clarifications (Tanbīhāt) ❖
➊ One Handful for Mouth and Nose
The narration that mentions taking separate handfuls for rinsing the mouth and nose (Abū Dāwūd: 193) has been declared weak by Imām Nawawī and Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar.
✔ According to Imām Nawawī and Imām Ibn al-Qayyim, the Prophet ﷺ used one handful: half for mouth, half for nose.
➋ Ears Are Part of the Head
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The ears are part of the head.”
(Dāraqutnī 1/89. Authenticated by Ibn al-Jawzī and others)
✔ This means no need for fresh water for wiping the ears.
The narration suggesting separate water for ears is classified as shādh (anomalous) by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar.
➌ Wiping the Neck
According to Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله, there is no authentic hadith about wiping the neck (nape).
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله also said:
“This hadith is weak by consensus.”
