What is Wudu?

Wudu is the ritual washing a Muslim performs before salah. It purifies the body and prepares the heart, gently shifting your state from the ordinary into worship.

Allah says in the Qur'an: "O you who believe, when you rise to pray, wash your faces and your hands to the elbows, wipe your heads, and your feet to the ankles." (Al-Ma'idah 5:6)

Without valid wudu the prayer is not accepted. It is required after using the toilet, passing wind, deep sleep, or anything that breaks purity.

Progress

0 of 11 steps complete

Sequence

1
Niyyah (Intention)
Fard
Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for the sake of Allah and to become pure for prayer. No words need to be spoken aloud.
2
Say Bismillah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ
Begin by saying "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah). This is a recommended sunnah at the start of wudu.
3
Wash both hands — 3 times
Wash the hands up to and including the wrists three times, making sure water reaches between the fingers.
4
Rinse the mouth — 3 times
Take water into the mouth, swish it thoroughly, and spit it out. Repeat three times.
5
Sniff water into the nose — 3 times
Sniff a small amount of water into the nostrils with the right hand and blow it out gently with the left. Repeat three times.
6
Wash the face — 3 times
Fard
Wash the entire face from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear, three times. Every part must be covered with water.
7
Wash arms to elbows — 3 times
Fard
Wash the right arm from the fingertips up to and including the elbow three times, then do the same with the left arm.
8
Wipe the head (masah) — once
Fard
With wet hands, wipe over the head from the forehead to the back, and then back to the front. This is done once.
9
Wipe the ears — once
Using the index fingers inside the ears and thumbs behind them, wipe both ears with the same moisture from the head wipe.
10
Wash feet to ankles — 3 times
Fard
Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, making sure water reaches between the toes. Then do the same with the left foot.
11
Closing supplication
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.
Recite the shahadah after finishing. The Prophet ﷺ said the eight gates of Paradise are opened for the one who completes wudu well and then says this.

Note: minor variations exist between madhhabs (e.g. order, number of repetitions, and which steps are fard vs. sunnah). When in doubt, consult a trusted local scholar.