Wudu Guide
A step-by-step guide to ablution before prayer, with common mistakes and accessibility notes.
The steps of wudu
Intention (Niyyah)
Make the intention in your heart that you are performing wudu for prayer and to seek Allah's pleasure.
Say Bismillah
Say 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah) before beginning.
Wash the hands three times
Wash from the wrist to the fingertips, ensuring water reaches between the fingers.
Rinse the mouth three times
Take water into the mouth and swirl it thoroughly, then release.
Clean the nose three times
Sniff a little water into the nostrils and blow it out gently, using the left hand.
Wash the face three times
From the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear.
Wash the arms three times
Right arm first, then the left, from the fingertips up to and including the elbows.
Wipe the head once
With wet hands, wipe from the front of the head to the back and return.
Wipe the ears once
Using the same water, wipe the inside of the ears with the index fingers and the outside with the thumbs.
Wash the feet three times
Right foot first, then the left, up to and including the ankles. Ensure water reaches between the toes.
Dua after wudu
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh — 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, and Muhammad is His servant and messenger.' (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 234)
Common mistakes
- Skipping between the fingers or toes.
- Not washing to the full boundary (elbows, ankles).
- Wasting water — the Prophet ﷺ used a small amount.
- Wiping instead of washing the arms or feet.
- Talking about worldly matters unnecessarily during wudu.
What breaks wudu
- Anything exiting from the front or back private parts.
- Deep sleep in which awareness is lost.
- Loss of consciousness (fainting, seizure, intoxication).
- Direct contact with impurity in relevant cases (consult a scholar).
Water conservation
The Prophet ﷺ used a very small amount of water for wudu. Turn taps off between steps and avoid waste — this is part of the Sunnah.
Accessibility
People with disabilities, injuries, casts, or difficulty using water may perform wudu seated, wipe over casts and dressings where required, or perform tayammum (dry ablution) when water is not usable. Please consult a qualified scholar for your circumstances.