How to Perform Wudu

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Last Updated: September 30, 2024 Approved

How do you properly perform Wudu? Wudu, or the washing and cleansing ritual that’s completed before praying salah, is an important part of the Muslim faith. We'll guide you step-by-step through every aspect of this important and purifying cleansing ritual, so you can feel comfortable performing it on your own before your time of worship.

Steps

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1
Make niyyah (intention) to perform wudu, and say "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah) before starting wudu.
- Niyyah is the Islamic concept of performing an act for the sake of Allah. To truly perform wudu, you should center yourself and quiet your thoughts, focusing seriously on what you are doing (intending to perform wudu (ablution)).
- Niyyah is not said out loud and should be made in the heart; focusing on the phrase "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah) is a good way to accomplish the necessary centering. Say it out loud or silently to yourself, whichever makes you comfortable.
Use your left hand to wash your right hand. Do this three times. After that, use your right hand to wash your left hand three times. Make sure to wash in between your fingers and all the way up to your wrists.

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Use your right hand to cup water into your mouth three times. Swish it around in your cheeks. Do this thoroughly.
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Inhale water into your nose. Use your right hand to cup water and inhale it into your nose and blow out three times. Snort sharply and abruptly without taking too much water into your nose and choking yourself. If you cannot inhale water into your nose, you can wet your fingers and put water on the lower part of your nostrils.
- Make sure to use safe water to perform this ritual; in some warmer areas of the world, water may contain naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that, if inhaled into the nostrils, can cause a rare but usually fatal type of brain infection. Even tap water (usually in third world and developing countries) may be contaminated; to avoid this illness, boil water for one minute (three minutes at higher elevations) and leave it to cool before rinsing your nose with the water.
Wash your face three times by spreading your hands from your right ear to the left, and from the hairline to the chin.
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Wash your lower arms from the fingertips to elbows, leaving no part dry. From your fingertips to your elbow, wash your right arm with your left hand three times and then wash your left arm with your right hand three times.
- If you have a cast, you are allowed to simply wipe over it instead.^{[1]
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This is known as "maseh". Using your wet hands, gently wipe the entire head once, from the forehead to the back of the head, and wipe it again forward from the back of the head to the forehead. You can also wipe in the direction of the hair only, so that the hair is not messed up or changed.
Use your thumb to clean behind your ears from the bottom upward. This is also done one time.
Clean up to the ankles and be sure water goes between the toes. Use your pinky finger and go through each toe to eliminate anything between. Start with your right foot and scrub each foot three times.
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Memorize the order. Wudu should be performed one after another (Tarthib), so it is important that you know the order of the steps so that you can follow them accurately.
- If you make a mistake in the order, you must begin your wudu from the beginning again.
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Once you are done, recite the du'as after wudu. They are: Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘I'll allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu.Allaahummaj’alnee minat-tawwaabeena waj’alnee minal-mutatahhireen.Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika, ‘ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa ‘Anta, ‘Astagh firuka wa ‘atoobu ‘ilayk..
- In English, I testify that there is no one worthy of worship besides Allah. He is all by Himself and has no partner and I testify that Muhammad ﷺ is Allah’s servant and Rasul (Messenger) O Allah, count me (include me) among those who seek forgiveness and amongst those who stay clean O Allah, You are pure, I praise You and testify that only You are worthy of worship and I seek forgiveness from You I turn to You for repentance".
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Repeat nullified wudu before praying. Actions that nullify wudu include natural discharges, including urination, vomiting, defecation, excessive bleeding, and gas. Deep sleep also nullifies wudu.^{[2]
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- After intercourse, re-performing wudu alone is not enough to be able to perform Salat. There is another form of purification that must be performed known as Ghusul.

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Why is wudu important?

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In Islam, wudu is believed to be important for both physical and spiritual reasons. It’s important to be ritually pure in the presence of Allah before saying prayers, and wudu can also help you stay healthy by keeping clean.

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Do I have to perform wudu before every prayer?

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Not necessarily. If nothing happens to invalidate your wudu between prayers (such as going to the bathroom or sleeping), you can pray without performing wudu again.

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How do kids perform wudu?

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Kids perform wudu using the same steps as adults. While wudu isn’t required for children, teaching them how to perform wudu will help them prepare for that requirement as they get older.

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Tips

It is always better to clear your bowels and urinate before wudu. That way, you will be able to resist any urge to use the washroom right after performing wudu. You'll also be able to focus on the prayer better.

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You need water to do the steps above, but if you can't find any water or if you are sick, you can perform Tayammum. It is a form of purification made with clean dust, earth or sand.

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If you're limited on water, you can perform all of this once, not three times.

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Warnings

Not all denominations perform wudu the same way, and within denominations, there are different interpretations. For example, Sunnis and Shias perform wudu differently, and within Sunni Islam, the different schools of jurisprudence (madhhabs) have different rulings for wudu due to their interpretations of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

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With applied nail polish, wudu cannot be done because the water has to touch your nails to clean them. Nail polish acts as a barrier, preventing the water from touching them.^{[3]
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