NurHarun

Wudū guide: step by step

Ritual washing has obligatory parts (fard), recommended acts (sunnah) and good manners (adab). This guide shows the how, in the order of the NurSalah app. It follows the Hanafi school.

Summary

  1. Niyyah – Intention
  2. Basmala – Bismillah
  3. Hands – up to the wrists
  4. Mouth – rinsing
  5. Nose – rinsing
  6. Face – washing
  7. Right arm – up to the elbow
  8. Left arm – up to the elbow
  9. Masah – head
  10. Ears – cleaning
  11. Right foot – up to the ankle
  12. Left foot – up to the ankle
  13. Dua – closing supplication

What is obligatory?

Omitting one invalidates the wudu.

  • Washing the whole face — with a thick beard washing its surface suffices, with a thin beard the water must reach the skin
  • Washing both arms up to and including the elbows
  • Wiping a quarter of the head (masah)
  • Washing both feet up to and including the ankles

The thirteen steps

ILLUSTRATIONS

  1. Step 1 Niyyah – Intention

    SUNNAH

    I intend to perform the ablution for the sake of Allah.

    نَوَيْتُ الْوُضُوءَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

    Nawaitu l-wudū'a lillāhi ta'ālā

  2. Step 2 Basmala – Bismillah

    SUNNAH

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

    Bismillāhi r-rahmāni r-rahīm

  3. Step 3 Hands – up to the wrists

    SUNNAH3× REPEAT

    Wash both hands up to the wrists.

    غَسْلُ الْيَدَيْنِ

    Ghuslu l-yadayn

    Illustration: Hands – up to the wristsIllustration: Hands – up to the wrists

  4. Step 4 Mouth – rinsing

    SUNNAH3× REPEAT

    Take water into the mouth, rinse, and spit it out. Rinsing thoroughly is sunnah — while fasting, do so gently so no water reaches the throat.

    اَلْمَضْمَضَة

    Al-madmadah

    Illustration: Mouth – rinsingIllustration: Mouth – rinsing

  5. Step 5 Nose – rinsing

    SUNNAH3× REPEAT

    Draw water into the nose and then blow it out. Rinsing thoroughly is sunnah — while fasting, do so gently so no water reaches the throat.

    اَلاِسْتِنْشَاق

    Al-istinshāq

    Illustration: Nose – rinsingIllustration: Nose – rinsing

  6. Step 6 Face – washing

    OBLIGATORY3× REPEAT

    Wash the entire face from forehead to chin and from ear to ear — including the strip between the ear and the beard line. The obligation (fard) is one complete washing; three times is sunnah.

    غَسْلُ الْوَجْهِ

    Ghuslu l-wajh

    Illustration: Face – washingIllustration: Face – washing

  7. Step 7 Right arm – up to the elbow

    OBLIGATORY3× REPEAT

    Thoroughly wash the right arm including the elbow. The obligation (fard) is one complete washing; three times is sunnah.

    غَسْلُ الْيَدِ الْيُمْنَى

    Ghuslu l-yadi l-yumnā

    Illustration: Right arm – up to the elbowIllustration: Right arm – up to the elbow

  8. Step 8 Left arm – up to the elbow

    OBLIGATORY3× REPEAT

    Thoroughly wash the left arm including the elbow. The obligation (fard) is one complete washing; three times is sunnah.

    غَسْلُ الْيَدِ الْيُسْرَى

    Ghuslu l-yadi l-yusrā

    Illustration: Left arm – up to the elbowIllustration: Left arm – up to the elbow

  9. Step 9 Masah – head

    OBLIGATORY

    The obligation (fard) is to wipe at least one quarter of the head. Wiping the whole head once from front to back with wet hands is sunnah.

    مَسْحُ الرَّأْسِ

    Mashu r-ra's

    Illustration: Masah – headIllustration: Masah – head

  10. Step 10 Ears – cleaning

    SUNNAH

    Wipe the ears with the moisture left over from wiping the head — without taking fresh water. Little fingers into the ear canals, thumbs along the outside.

    مَسْحُ الْأُذُنَيْنِ

    Mashu l-udhunayn

    Illustration: Ears – cleaningIllustration: Ears – cleaning

  11. Step 11 Right foot – up to the ankle

    OBLIGATORY3× REPEAT

    Wash the right foot including the ankle. The obligation (fard) is one complete washing; three times is sunnah.

    غَسْلُ الرِّجْلِ الْيُمْنَى

    Ghuslu r-rijli l-yumnā

    Illustration: Right foot – up to the ankleIllustration: Right foot – up to the ankle

  12. Step 12 Left foot – up to the ankle

    OBLIGATORY3× REPEAT

    Wash the left foot including the ankle. The obligation (fard) is one complete washing; three times is sunnah.

    غَسْلُ الرِّجْلِ الْيُسْرَى

    Ghuslu r-rijli l-yusrā

    Illustration: Left foot – up to the ankleIllustration: Left foot – up to the ankle

  13. Step 13 Dua – closing supplication

    DHIKR

    I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

    أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

    Ash-hadu allā ilāha illallāhu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa-rasūluh

    Illustration: Dua – closing supplicationIllustration: Dua – closing supplication

What is recommended? (sunnah)

Recommended, following the Prophet’s ﷺ example; they perfect the wudu.

  • Intention (niyya)
  • Basmala (beginning with “Bismillāh”)
  • Washing the hands up to the wrists
  • Cleaning the teeth (miswāk)
  • Rinsing the mouth (maḍmaḍa)
  • Rinsing the nose (istinshāq)
  • Wiping the whole head (masah kāmil)
  • Wiping the ears
  • Washing each part three times
  • Keeping the order (tartīb)
  • Without interruption, promptly (muwālāt)
  • Starting with the right side
  • Rubbing the limbs (dalk)
  • Combing the fingers and full beard (khilāl)

Good manners (adab)

  • Facing the qibla
  • Using water sparingly
  • Reciting the shahāda / supplication after wudu

For women and men

In NurSalah, the illustrations can show either a female or a male figure. For the beard, when washing the face: with a thick beard washing its surface suffices, with a thin beard the water must reach the skin.

NurSalah

NurSalah has the guide too, to follow along step by step and without an internet connection.

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