Wudu: How to Perform Ablution
الوضوء
Before praying, a Muslim must be in a state of ritual purity. Wudu (ablution) is the washing of specific body parts as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is a prerequisite for prayer: your salah is not valid without it.
“The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Allah does not accept the prayer of any one of you if he is in a state of impurity until he performs wudu.'”
Before you begin
- •Water must be clean and pure (tahir)
- •The intention (niyyah) to perform wudu must be in the heart
- •Remove anything that prevents water from reaching the skin (nail polish, heavy makeup, etc.)
The steps of wudu
Step 1: Intention (Niyyah)
Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for the sake of Allah. The intention is in the heart, not spoken aloud.
The Prophet ﷺ never instructed verbal intention for wudu. It is purely in the heart.
Dua after wudu
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 234أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.
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.
What breaks your wudu
Anything that exits from the private parts (urine, stool, gas)
Deep sleep (light dozing while seated does not break wudu)
Loss of consciousness
Bleeding from a wound (difference of opinion among scholars: some say it breaks wudu, some say it doesn't)