Wudu & Purification Center

8

Wudu Steps

3

Authentic Supplications

4

Virtues

5

Invalidators

8

Neglected Sunnahs

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Complete Wudu Steps

8 steps arranged according to the Sunnah (ears are part of the head) with detailed explanation

1 Intention (Niyyah)

⚠️ Intention is an action of the heart - not verbalization

Intention is in the heart, uttering it is an innovation

Intention is the resolve of the heart. It is a condition for the validity of Wudu. Wudu is not valid without intention.

Obligatory Sahih Bukhari & Muslim: "Actions are judged by intentions"

Make the intention in your heart, do not utter it. Because it is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ.

Details

2 Bismillah

Bismillah

In the name of Allah

Saying "Bismillah" at the beginning of Wudu is Sunnah according to the majority of scholars.

Sunnah Abu Dawud (101) & Tirmidhi (25)

Say "Bismillah" at the very beginning of Wudu. Remember that any action not started with "Bismillah" is incomplete.

Details

3 Washing Hands

Washing hands three times is recommended

Washing the hands three times before inserting them into the vessel. This is an emphasized Sunnah.

Sunnah Sahih Bukhari & Muslim

Interlace your fingers and wash well. This is part of the complete Sunnah.

Details

4 Rinsing Mouth and Nose

Rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose

Rinsing the mouth and nose are two emphasized Sunnahs. It is recommended to be thorough except for the fasting person.

Emphasized Sunnah (some say obligatory) Sahih Bukhari & Muslim

Be thorough in rinsing your mouth and nose if you are not fasting, because excessive water may enter the stomach.

Details

5 Washing the Face

So wash your faces

Boundaries of the face: lengthwise from the hairline to the chin, widthwise from ear to ear.

Obligatory Surah Al-Maidah: 6

If you have a thick beard, work water into it with your fingers. This is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

Details

6 Washing the Arms

And your arms up to the elbows

Washing the arms including the elbows. The elbow is the joint between the upper arm and the forearm.

Obligatory Surah Al-Maidah: 6

Start with the right arm, then the left. Interlace your fingers. This is the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.

Details

7 Wiping the Head (including ears)

And wipe your heads - and the ears are part of the head

Wipe your head once with wet hands. The ears are included in the wiping.

Obligatory (head) / Sunnah (ears) Surah Al-Maidah: 6 / Ibn Majah (442)

Wipe your head with wet hands, then insert your index fingers into your ear canals and wipe the outside with your thumbs.

Details

8 Washing the Feet

And your feet up to the ankles

Washing the feet including the ankles. The ankles are the protruding bones on the back of the foot.

Obligatory Surah Al-Maidah: 6

Interlace your toes with your little finger, and start with the right foot. This is the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.

Details

Wudu Supplications

Authentic supplications before and after Wudu

Before Wudu

1 Supplications

Supplication

Bismillah

In the name of Allah

Saying "Bismillah" at the beginning of Wudu is Sunnah

1 time(s) Abu Dawud (101) & Tirmidhi (25)

After Wudu

2 Supplications

Supplication

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu

I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger

The eight gates of Paradise are opened for him

1 time(s) Muslim (234)

Supplication

Allahummaj alni minat tawwabina waj alni minal mutatahhireen

O Allah, make me among those who repent and make me among those who purify themselves

The gates of Paradise are opened for the one who says this

1 time(s) Tirmidhi (55)

Virtues of Wudu

The great status that Allah has prepared for those who perform Wudu

Elevation of Ranks

Performing Wudu despite hardships expiates sins and raises ranks

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: "أَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى مَا يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا وَيَرْفَعُ بِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ؟" قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: "إِسْبَاغُ الْوُضُوءِ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ..."

Muslim (234)

Light on the Day of Resurrection

The glow of whiteness on the face and limbs on the Day of Resurrection from the effects of Wudu

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: "إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الْوُضُوءِ"

Bukhari (136) & Muslim (246)

Key to Prayer

Prayer is not accepted without purification

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: "لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةً بِغَيْرِ طُهُورٍ"

Muslim (224)

Flowing Rewards

Good deeds are recorded with every drop of water

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: "إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ الْعَبْدُ الْمُسْلِمُ فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ..."

Muslim (244)

Invalidators of Wudu

Things that invalidate Wudu and require its renewal, with explanation of scholarly differences

Excretion from the front or back passage

Such as urine, feces, wind, semen, and prostatic fluid

Sahih Bukhari & Muslim

Scholars unanimously agree that it invalidates Wudu

The excretion of urine, feces, wind, semen, or prostatic fluid invalidates Wudu.

Deep sleep

Deep sleep in which one loses sensation

Abu Dawud (203)

Light sleep does not invalidate Wudu

Deep sleep that causes loss of consciousness invalidates Wudu. Light sleep such as drowsiness does not invalidate it.

Loss of consciousness

Due to intoxication, insanity, fainting, or illness

Consensus (Ijma)

Agreed upon among scholars

Loss of consciousness due to intoxication, insanity, fainting, or illness invalidates Wudu.

Touching the private part

Touching the private part with the hand - according to the stronger opinion, whether with desire or without

Abu Dawud (182) & Tirmidhi (82)

Fiqh caution: Invalidates according to Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, does not invalidate according to Hanafi and Maliki schools

There is scholarly disagreement regarding touching the private part. Some say it absolutely invalidates Wudu, others say it does not. As a precaution, renewing Wudu is better.

Eating camel meat

Eating camel meat invalidates Wudu according to the stronger opinion

Muslim (360) and others

A disputed matter: Invalidates according to Hanbali and the new opinion of Shafi'i. Does not invalidate according to Abu Hanifah, Malik, and the old opinion of Shafi'i. The stronger opinion: It invalidates - chosen by Ibn Baz, Ibn Uthaymeen, and Al-Albani

Evidence: Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ: "Should I perform Wudu after eating camel meat?" He said: "Yes, perform Wudu after eating camel meat" (Muslim 360). Al-Bayhaqi said: Even though it contradicts the majority, this school of thought has strong evidence. It is the stronger opinion consistent with the religious evidence.

Neglected Sunnahs of Wudu

Sunnahs that if Muslims knew about them, their reward would increase

Using Siwak

Using Siwak (tooth stick)

Washing hands at the beginning of Wudu

Washing the hands at the beginning of Wudu

Being thorough in rinsing mouth and nose

Exaggerating in rinsing mouth and nose (for non-fasting person)

Working water into a thick beard

Running fingers through a thick beard

Interlacing fingers

Interleaving fingers

Starting with the right side

Starting with the right side (right before left)

Washing each limb three times

Supplication after Wudu

Purification is Half of Faith

Maintain your purity so that you may be among those who remember Allah often

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Wudu Supplications

Before Wudu

Supplication

After Wudu

Supplication

Supplication

Virtues of Wudu

Elevation of Ranks

Light on the Day of Resurrection

Key to Prayer

Flowing Rewards

Invalidators of Wudu

Neglected Sunnahs of Wudu

Purification is Half of Faith