Fiqh Rulings and Issues in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Volume 01 – Page 46
The detailed method of performing wuḍūʾ.
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
All praise is for Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
You have already read in the previous pages the discussion regarding the conditions, obligations, and Sunnahs of wuḍūʾ. Now, in the light of those same Sharʿī texts, the complete method of wuḍūʾ is being described in detail, so that your practice may conform to it.
◈ Then wash both hands three times.
◈ Thereafter, rinse the mouth three times.
◈ Then put water into the nose three times and expel it with the left hand.
Length: From the hairline of the forehead to the chin.
Width: From one ear to the other.
The beard hair is part of the face, and washing it is obligatory.
❀ If the beard is short, it must be washed externally and internally.
❀ If the beard is long and thick such that the skin underneath is not visible, then washing the outer part is sufficient, and running the fingers through it (takhlīl) should be done.
The ears are part of the head, therefore they are wiped along with the head.
◈ If there is dough, mud, nail polish, or anything else on the hands that prevents water from reaching the skin, it must be removed.
Method:
✔ Moisten both hands and place them at the front of the head.
✔ Take them to the nape of the neck.
✔ Then bring them back to the place from where the wiping began.
✔ Insert the index fingers into the ear canals.
✔ Wipe the back of the ears with the thumbs.
◈ Wash them three times, including the ankles.
◈ If the hand is amputated up to the elbow, then wash the remaining upper arm.
◈ If the foot is amputated up to the ankle, then wash the initial part of the shin.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ﴾
Translation:
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ»
Translation:
“When I command you to do something, then do of it as much as you are able.”
Thus, when such a person washes the remaining part of the obligatory limb, he has fulfilled the command according to his ability.
Then recite:
«أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ»
Translation:
“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, He has no partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.”
«اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ»
Translation:
“O Allah! Make me among those who repent often and make me among those who purify themselves.”
«سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ»
Translation:
“O Allah! You are Pure, and all praise is Yours. I bear witness that there is no deity except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.”
Through wuḍūʾ, outward purification is attained, and through tawḥīd and repentance, inner purification is achieved—thus making the servant worthy of standing before Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ارْجِعْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ»
Translation:
“Go back and perform your wuḍūʾ properly.”
In another narration:
The Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying while a portion of his foot was dry, so he ordered him to repeat both the wuḍūʾ and the prayer.
And he ﷺ said:
«وَيْلٌ لِلْأَعْقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ»
Translation:
“Woe to the heels from the Fire!”
The Prophet ﷺ used to perform wuḍūʾ with one mudd of water.
He ﷺ forbade extravagance and said:
«مَا هَذَا السَّرَفُ؟»
Translation:
“What is this extravagance?”
Even if you are at a flowing river.
Translation:
“Indeed, there is a devil for wuḍūʾ called ‘al-Walahān’, so beware of whispers regarding water.”
Perform wuḍūʾ and all acts of worship according to the Sunnah, avoiding both excess and negligence.
Moderation is the best path, and in following the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ lies complete goodness.
Āmīn.
Volume 01 – Page 46
Question
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهThe detailed method of performing wuḍūʾ.
Answer
With the help of al-Wahhāb, subject to the correctness of the questionوعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
All praise is for Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
You have already read in the previous pages the discussion regarding the conditions, obligations, and Sunnahs of wuḍūʾ. Now, in the light of those same Sharʿī texts, the complete method of wuḍūʾ is being described in detail, so that your practice may conform to it.
Intention and Beginning of Wuḍūʾ
The one performing wuḍūʾ should first make the intention in the heart that he is performing wuḍūʾ in obedience to the command of Allah for prayer and other acts of worship, and then recite Bismillāh.◈ Then wash both hands three times.
◈ Thereafter, rinse the mouth three times.
◈ Then put water into the nose three times and expel it with the left hand.
Method and Limits of Washing the Face
◈ Wash the face three times.Length: From the hairline of the forehead to the chin.
Width: From one ear to the other.
The beard hair is part of the face, and washing it is obligatory.
❀ If the beard is short, it must be washed externally and internally.
❀ If the beard is long and thick such that the skin underneath is not visible, then washing the outer part is sufficient, and running the fingers through it (takhlīl) should be done.
The ears are part of the head, therefore they are wiped along with the head.
Method of Washing the Arms
◈ Wash both arms three times, from the fingertips up to and including the elbows.◈ If there is dough, mud, nail polish, or anything else on the hands that prevents water from reaching the skin, it must be removed.
Method of Wiping the Head and Ears
◈ Take fresh water and wipe the entire head and both ears once.Method:
✔ Moisten both hands and place them at the front of the head.
✔ Take them to the nape of the neck.
✔ Then bring them back to the place from where the wiping began.
✔ Insert the index fingers into the ear canals.
✔ Wipe the back of the ears with the thumbs.
Method of Washing the Feet
◈ First the right foot, then the left foot.◈ Wash them three times, including the ankles.
Ruling Regarding an Amputated Limb
◈ If someone’s hand or foot is amputated, he should wash whatever part remains.◈ If the hand is amputated up to the elbow, then wash the remaining upper arm.
◈ If the foot is amputated up to the ankle, then wash the initial part of the shin.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ﴾
Reference: al-Taghābun 64:16
Translation:
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7288; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1337; Musnad Aḥmad 2/258
Translation:
“When I command you to do something, then do of it as much as you are able.”
Thus, when such a person washes the remaining part of the obligatory limb, he has fulfilled the command according to his ability.
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 170
Remembrances and Supplications After Wuḍūʾ
After completing wuḍūʾ, one should raise his gaze towards the sky.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 234; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 55
Then recite:
«أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ»
Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 55
Translation:
“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, He has no partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.”
«اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ»
Translation:
“O Allah! Make me among those who repent often and make me among those who purify themselves.”
«سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ»
Reference: Sunan al-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā 6/25; al-Mustadrak 1/564; al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 2651
Translation:
“O Allah! You are Pure, and all praise is Yours. I bear witness that there is no deity except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.”
Through wuḍūʾ, outward purification is attained, and through tawḥīd and repentance, inner purification is achieved—thus making the servant worthy of standing before Allah.
Drying the Limbs After Wuḍūʾ
If a person wipes his limbs with a clean cloth or towel after wuḍūʾ, there is no harm in doing so.Important Warning: Completing Wuḍūʾ Is Obligatory
It is obligatory to complete wuḍūʾ properly, ensuring that no limb remains dry.The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ارْجِعْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 243; Sunan Abī Dāwūd 173
Translation:
“Go back and perform your wuḍūʾ properly.”
In another narration:
The Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying while a portion of his foot was dry, so he ordered him to repeat both the wuḍūʾ and the prayer.
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 175
And he ﷺ said:
«وَيْلٌ لِلْأَعْقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 165; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 242
Translation:
“Woe to the heels from the Fire!”
Moderation in the Use of Water
Perfecting wuḍūʾ does not mean using excessive water; rather, it means ensuring water reaches the entire limb with moderation.The Prophet ﷺ used to perform wuḍūʾ with one mudd of water.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 201; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 325
He ﷺ forbade extravagance and said:
«مَا هَذَا السَّرَفُ؟»
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah 425; Musnad Aḥmad 2/221
Translation:
“What is this extravagance?”
Even if you are at a flowing river.
Warning Against Waswās (Whispers)
«إِنَّ لِلْوُضُوءِ شَيْطَانًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الْوَلَهَانُ…»
Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 57; Sunan Ibn Mājah 421
Translation:
“Indeed, there is a devil for wuḍūʾ called ‘al-Walahān’, so beware of whispers regarding water.”
Advice
O Muslim brother!Perform wuḍūʾ and all acts of worship according to the Sunnah, avoiding both excess and negligence.
Moderation is the best path, and in following the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ lies complete goodness.
Supplication
O Allah! Show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the strength to avoid it.Āmīn.
