Prayer · · 6 min read
How to Perform Wudu (Ablution) Step by Step
Prayer begins before the takbir. The Prophet ﷺ said that no prayer is accepted without wudu — and he taught it so clearly that his Companions could show it to others step by step.
Short answer: Wudu is the washing a Muslim does before prayer. Make the intention, then wash the hands, rinse the mouth, rinse the nose, wash the face, wash the arms up to the elbows (right, then left), wipe the head and ears once, and wash the feet up to the ankles (right, then left). Each washing can be done up to three times.
Why wudu matters
Allah commands wudu in the Qur’an, naming the parts that are washed and wiped:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قُمۡتُمۡ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغۡسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ وَ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡمَرَافِقِ وَ ٱمۡسَحُواْ بِرُءُوسِكُمۡ وَ أَرۡجُلَكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡكَعۡبَيۡنِ ۚ وَ إِن كُنتُمۡ جُنُبࣰا فَٱطَّهَّرُواْ ۚ وَ إِن كُنتُم مَّرۡضَىٰٓ أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوۡ جَآءَ أَحَدࣱ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡغَآئِطِ أَوۡ لَٰمَسۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمۡ تَجِدُواْ مَآءࣰ فَتَيَمَّمُواْ صَعِيدࣰا طَيِّبࣰا فَٱمۡسَحُواْ بِوُجُوهِكُمۡ وَ أَيۡدِيكُم مِّنۡهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجۡعَلَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّنۡ حَرَجࣲ وَ لَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمۡ وَ لِيُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَهُۥ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ
Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “The prayer of a person who does hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted until he performs wudu.”
How to make wudu, step by step
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan showed the Companions the Prophet’s wudu with a cup of water. The steps below follow his description in Sahih al-Bukhari, with the details from the other narrations noted.
- Intention. Intend in your heart that you are making wudu for prayer; it does not need to be said aloud. Many scholars recommend beginning with Bismillah.
- Hands. Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.
- Mouth. Take water in your right hand, rinse your mouth and spit it out — three times.
- Nose. Draw water into your nose and blow it out — three times.
- Face. Wash the whole face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
- Arms. Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left.
- Head. Pass your wet hands over your head once, from the front to the back of the head and back to the front.
- Ears. Wipe the inside and outside of the ears with the same wet fingers.
- Feet. Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left, making sure the water reaches between the toes.
Humran saw ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan wash his hands three times, rinse his mouth and nose, wash his face and his arms up to the elbows three times, wipe his head, and wash his feet up to the ankles three times. Then he said: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “Whoever performs wudu like this wudu of mine and then prays two rak‘ahs without his mind wandering, his past sins will be forgiven.”
Wiping the head from front to back and back again is described by ‘Abdullah ibn Zayd in Sahih al-Bukhari 185; wiping the ears inside and out is in Abu Dawud 121. Washing each part once or twice is also valid — the Prophet ﷺ did both (Bukhari 157, 158).
Small habits from the Sunnah
- Start with the right. ‘Aishah said the Prophet ﷺ liked to begin with the right side in washing himself and in everything else (Bukhari 168).
- Do not waste water, even when it is plentiful — a little, used well, is enough.
- Keep the order of the verse, and do not leave long gaps between the steps.
The dua after wudu
When you finish, say the testimony of faith:
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhū wa rasūluh — “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
‘Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “If any of you performs wudu and completes it well, then says: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.”
What breaks wudu
- Passing urine, stool or wind — the “hadath” of the hadith above.
- Deep sleep, and losing consciousness.
- Whatever requires a full bath (ghusl) also requires wudu again.
Scholars of the different schools discuss further cases, such as touching the private parts or bleeding. If you are unsure about a situation, ask a scholar you trust.
Frequently asked questions
How do you perform wudu step by step?
Make the intention, wash the hands, rinse the mouth and nose, wash the face, wash the arms up to the elbows (right then left), wipe the head and ears, then wash the feet up to the ankles (right then left).
Do you have to wash each part three times?
No. Three times is the Sunnah, but washing each part once is enough; the Prophet ﷺ made wudu washing once, twice and three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 157–159).
What do you say after wudu?
“Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.” The Prophet ﷺ said that the eight gates of Paradise are opened for the one who says it (Sahih Muslim).
