Adapted from: Ṣalāh al-Muslim by Al-Fatḥ Ḥusayn
② Begin with “Bismillah” (only “بِسْمِ اللَّهِ”).
(Nasā’ī, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah: 78)
③ Wash both hands three times.
(Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Wuḍū’: 101)
④ Interlace the fingers during hand washing.
(Abū Dāwūd, Wuḍū’: 142)
⑤ Take one handful of water—use half for rinsing the mouth and half for the nose—blowing the nose with the left hand, three times.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 191)
⑥ Wash the face three times.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 185–186)
⑦ Use a handful of water to cleanse under the beard by running fingers through it.
(Tirmidhī, Ṭahārah: 31)
⑧ Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left arm likewise.
(Bukhārī: 1934, Muslim: 236)
⑨ Wipe the head: Start from the front to the back, then return to the starting point.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 185)
⑩ Wipe the ears: Use index fingers inside and thumbs behind the ears.
(Ibn Mājah: 439)
⑪ Wash the right foot including the ankle three times, then the left likewise.
(Bukhārī: 1934)
⑫ Interlace the toes with fingers.
(Tirmidhī, Ṭahārah: 39)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-ʿIbādah: 234)
“I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.”
✿ All eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him; he may enter through any he wishes.
② اللهم اجعلني من التوابين واجعلني من المتطهرين
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)
“O Allah, make me among those who constantly repent and among those who purify themselves.”
② Pointing the index finger toward the sky while reciting the shahādah — Unproven; it should be recited verbally only.
③ Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله stated that Shayṭān leads some to overuse water in wudu, causing:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ saw Saʿd doing wudu and said:
“O Saʿd! What is this excess?”
He replied, “Can there be excess in wudu?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Yes, even if you are using a flowing river.”
(Talbīs Iblīs, p. 213 — Ibn al-Jawzī)
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik, Ṭahārah: 42)
✿ Any discharge from either private part — Breaks wudu.
✿ Sleep — Invalidates wudu.
(Abū Dāwūd, Ṭahārah: 203)
✿ Passing wind — Breaks wudu.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 137)
✿ Eating camel meat — Invalidates wudu.
(Muslim, al-Ḥayḍ: 360)
❖ Wudu: The First Condition for Ṣalāh
Wudu is a prerequisite for prayer, without which Ṣalāh is not valid.❖ Sunnah Method of Performing Wudu
① Ensure the water is pure and clean.② Begin with “Bismillah” (only “بِسْمِ اللَّهِ”).
(Nasā’ī, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah: 78)
③ Wash both hands three times.
(Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Wuḍū’: 101)
④ Interlace the fingers during hand washing.
(Abū Dāwūd, Wuḍū’: 142)
⑤ Take one handful of water—use half for rinsing the mouth and half for the nose—blowing the nose with the left hand, three times.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 191)
⑥ Wash the face three times.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 185–186)
⑦ Use a handful of water to cleanse under the beard by running fingers through it.
(Tirmidhī, Ṭahārah: 31)
⑧ Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left arm likewise.
(Bukhārī: 1934, Muslim: 236)
⑨ Wipe the head: Start from the front to the back, then return to the starting point.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 185)
⑩ Wipe the ears: Use index fingers inside and thumbs behind the ears.
(Ibn Mājah: 439)
⑪ Wash the right foot including the ankle three times, then the left likewise.
(Bukhārī: 1934)
⑫ Interlace the toes with fingers.
(Tirmidhī, Ṭahārah: 39)
❖ Duʿā After Wudu
① أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-ʿIbādah: 234)
“I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.”
✿ All eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him; he may enter through any he wishes.
② اللهم اجعلني من التوابين واجعلني من المتطهرين
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)
“O Allah, make me among those who constantly repent and among those who purify themselves.”
❖ Innovations and Prohibited Practices in Wudu
① Wiping the neck — Not proven by any authentic hadith.② Pointing the index finger toward the sky while reciting the shahādah — Unproven; it should be recited verbally only.
③ Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله stated that Shayṭān leads some to overuse water in wudu, causing:
- Wastefulness (isrāf)
- Wasting time
- Acting contrary to Sunnah, which encourages using little water
- Exceeding the prescribed number of washes (more than three) is considered an excess
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ saw Saʿd doing wudu and said:
“O Saʿd! What is this excess?”
He replied, “Can there be excess in wudu?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Yes, even if you are using a flowing river.”
(Talbīs Iblīs, p. 213 — Ibn al-Jawzī)
❖ Nullifiers of Wudu
✿ Touching the private part without a barrier — Requires fresh wudu.(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik, Ṭahārah: 42)
✿ Any discharge from either private part — Breaks wudu.
✿ Sleep — Invalidates wudu.
(Abū Dāwūd, Ṭahārah: 203)
✿ Passing wind — Breaks wudu.
(Bukhārī, Wuḍū’: 137)
✿ Eating camel meat — Invalidates wudu.
(Muslim, al-Ḥayḍ: 360)
