How to Perform Wudu: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

Download Article

1. 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.
2. 2

   Wash your hands. 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.

   Advertisem*nt

3. 3

   Take water into your mouth. Use your right hand to cup water into your mouth three times. Swish it around in your cheeks. Do this thoroughly.

4. 4

   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. ^[1]
5. 5

   Wash your face. Wash your face three times by spreading your hands from your right ear to the left, and from the hairline to the chin.

6. 6

   Wash your lower arms from wrists to elbows, leaving no part dry. From your wrist 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.^[2]
7. 7

   Clean your head. 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.

8. 8

   Wipe your ears inside and out. Use your thumb to clean behind your ears from the bottom upward. This is also done one time.

9. 9

   Wash both of your feet. 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.

10. 10

    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.
11. 11

    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".
12. See Also

    How to Be Closer to Allah: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHowThe Dua Before and After Wudu (Ablution: With Pictures) - My IslamPrayers for Muslims to Protect Them Before and During TravelsImportance and Value of Dua in Islam

    12

    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.^[3]

    • 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.

Advertisem*nt

Strengthen Your Muslim Identity with this Expert Series

Continue your journey in strengthening your faith and connection to Islam with these expert articles.

Community Q&A

Ask a Question

• 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.

  Thanks

  Helpful6Not Helpful2

• 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.

  Thanks

  Helpful5Not Helpful3

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

  Thanks

  Helpful5Not Helpful1

• 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.

  Thanks

  Helpful26Not Helpful9

• 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.^[4]

  Thanks

  Helpful4Not Helpful3

You Might Also Like

Co-authors: 132

Updated: August 31, 2023

Views:4,722,151

Categories: Islam

Español:hacer el wudu

Deutsch:Wudu vollziehen

Italiano:Praticare il Wudu (Abluzione Minore)

Français:faire wudhu

Nederlands:Woedoe uitvoeren

Русский:Выполнить Вуду

Português:Fazer a Ablução

Bahasa Indonesia:Berwudu

العربية:الوضوء

中文:小净

Čeština:Jak provádět Wudu

한국어:우두(이슬람 목욕재계) 하는 방법

Türkçe:Abdest Nasıl Alınır

日本語:ウドゥをする