Wudu (Arabic: al-wuḍūʾ) is the ritual washing Muslims perform before salah. Allah commands it in the Quran (Al-Ma'idah 5:6) and the Prophet ﷺ taught us exactly how. Without valid wudu, prayer is not valid. The good news: it takes about three minutes, uses very little water, and once you've done it a dozen times it's second nature.
Tip: Once you've made wudu, it stays valid until something specifically breaks it. So one wudu can cover multiple prayers. FivePrayer reminds you when the next prayer enters so you know when to refresh.
The 4 fard (obligatory) acts of wudu
According to the explicit text of the Quran (Al-Ma'idah 5:6), the four fard of wudu are:
- Washing the face, from forehead hairline to chin, ear to ear.
- Washing the arms, including the elbows.
- Wiping the head, at least a portion of it (the Hanafi school says a quarter; Shafi'i says any portion).
- Washing the feet, including the ankles.
Some schools add niyyat (intention) and tartib (correct order) as fard. To be safe and uncontroversial, do all of them.
The sunnah additions
The Prophet ﷺ added several acts that are sunnah (highly recommended but not strictly obligatory):
- Saying Bismillah at the start.
- Washing the hands before the face.
- Rinsing the mouth.
- Sniffing water into the nose and blowing it out.
- Wiping inside the ears.
- Wiping the neck (controversial; some scholars don't include it).
- Doing each washing three times (the fard is once; three is sunnah).
- Starting with the right side.
- Reciting the du'a after wudu.
Full step-by-step (combining fard + sunnah)
1. Niyyat (intention)
In your heart, intend to perform wudu for the sake of Allah and to purify yourself for prayer. No need to say it aloud, niyyat lives in the heart.
2. Bismillah
Say: Bismillah.
3. Wash both hands three times
Wash from fingertips to wrists, including between the fingers. Start with the right hand, then the left.
4. Rinse the mouth three times
Take water in your right hand, rinse and spit. Three times. Use a miswak or finger to lightly clean teeth.
5. Sniff water into the nose three times
Inhale water into the right nostril, blow it out with the left hand. Three times. (Not if you're fasting, be gentle.)
6. Wash the face three times
From hairline to chin, ear to ear. Make sure water reaches every part of the face. Three times.
7. Wash the arms three times
From fingertips to and including the elbows. Right arm three times, then left arm three times. Make sure water reaches between fingers.
8. Wipe the head (mas-h)
Wet both hands and pass them over the head, from front to back and back to front. Once.
9. Wipe the ears
With the same wet hands, wipe the inside of the ears with the index fingers and behind the ears with the thumbs. Once.
10. Wash the feet three times
From toes to and including the ankles. Right foot three times, then left foot three times. Make sure water reaches between toes.
Du'a after wudu
After completing wudu, raise your hands and look up, and say:
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
("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.")
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever makes wudu well, then says this du'a, the eight gates of Jannah are opened for him, he may enter through whichever he wishes." (Muslim)
What breaks wudu
- Going to the bathroom (urine, stool, gas).
- Deep sleep (not light dozing).
- Loss of consciousness (fainting, intoxication, anaesthesia).
- Direct contact with private parts (Shafi'i school; Hanafi disagrees).
- Anything that requires ghusl (major impurity).
If any of these happen, repeat wudu before the next salah.
FAQ
Do I need to make wudu before every prayer?
No, only if your wudu has broken. One wudu can cover multiple prayers if nothing has broken it in between.
Does bleeding break wudu?
The schools differ. Hanafi: yes, if flowing. Shafi'i: no. Follow your local madhhab.
Can I make wudu with limited water?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ used about a half-liter (one mudd). Don't waste water, it's a hadith.
What if I can't use water at all?
Use tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth or dust). Only valid when water is genuinely unavailable or harmful.
Wudu is half the prep. Praying on time is the other half.
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