What are the obligations (arkan) of Wudu?

Six obligations (four stated in the Qur'an, two from the Sunnah): 1) washing the face, 2) washing both arms up to the elbows, 3) wiping the head, 4) washing both feet up to the ankles (Qur'an 5:6). The Shafi'i school adds: 5) niyya (intention), 6) tartib (order). The Maliki and Hanbali schools add al-muwalat (continuity, without a long gap between the steps).

By consensus, wudu is nullified by: 1) anything leaving the two orifices (urine, stool, wind, blood or abnormal discharge), 2) deep sleep, 3) loss of consciousness (fainting, intoxication), 4) touching one's private parts directly (a point of difference between the madhhabs), 5) eating camel meat (according to some). It is NOT nullified by laughing in prayer, slight vomiting, or bleeding outside the orifices (per the majority).

What is the difference between Wudu and Ghusl?

Wudu (the lesser ablution) means washing the face, the arms, the head and the feet. It is required before every prayer and before reading the Qur'an directly from the mushaf. Ghusl (the full ablution) means washing the WHOLE body with water, including the hair and the mouth and nose. It is obligatory after: marital intercourse, ejaculation, the end of menstruation, the end of post-natal bleeding, conversion to Islam, and death (for the body of the deceased). Ghusl removes the need for wudu.

How do you perform ablutions without water (Tayammum)?

Tayammum (تيمم) is the substitute ablution when there is no water or it cannot be used (illness, extreme cold, shortage). Procedure: 1) intention + Bismillah, 2) strike both palms lightly on a clean earthy surface (sand, stone, dust on a wall), 3) blow off the excess, 4) wipe the face once, 5) wipe the forearms up to the elbows once. Basis: Qur'an 5:6. One tayammum allows a single prayer, according to the majority.

Can ablution be done over socks (mash ʿala al-khuffayn)?

Yes — this is an authentic practice of the Prophet ﷺ: one may wipe over socks or khuffs (leather footwear) instead of washing the feet, provided that: 1) a complete wudu was performed before putting them on, 2) the socks cover the ankles, 3) the period does not exceed 24 hours for a resident or 72 hours for a traveller. This concession is a mercy from the Prophet ﷺ, especially useful in winter.

Is wudu broken by sleep?

DEEP sleep nullifies wudu. Light drowsiness (the head nodding, for instance) does not. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The eye is the drawstring of the anus; when the eyes close [deeply], the drawstring loosens” (Abu Dawud 203). In practice: if on waking you doubt whether you remained pure, repeat the wudu as a precaution.

Ritual purification (Tahara)

Ablutions in Islam

A complete guide to Tahara: Wudu (the lesser ablution, 11 steps), Ghusl (the full ablution), Tayammum (dry ablution). Everything you need to purify yourself properly before prayer.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ
“O you who believe! When you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your arms up to the elbows; wipe your heads; and wash your feet up to the ankles.”
— Qur'an, Surah Al-Ma'ida (5), verse 6 — the Qur'anic basis of Wudu

Wudu — the 11 complete steps

Following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ (hadith of ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan, Bukhari 159, Muslim 226):

Intention (niyya)

In the heart: “Nawaytu raf'a al-hadath li-s-salat” (I intend to remove ritual impurity for the prayer). It need not be said aloud.

Bismillah

Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah).

Wash the hands

×3

Up to the wrists. Right hand three times, then left hand three times.

Rinse the mouth (madmada)

×3

With the right hand, rinse the mouth thoroughly three times.

Draw water into the nose (istinshaq)

×3

Then blow it out with the left hand (istinthar). Gently if you are fasting.

Wash the face

×3

From the hairline to the chin, from ear to ear. Run the fingers through a thick beard (takhlil).

Wash the forearms

×3

From the fingertips up to and INCLUDING the elbows. Right three times, then left three times. Do not forget the elbows.

Wipe the head (mash)

×1

With wet hands, from the forehead to the nape, then back to the forehead. Once only (hadith: “The Prophet ﷺ wiped his head once”).

Wipe the ears

×1

Index fingers inside, thumbs behind. Directly after step 8, without taking fresh water.

Wash the feet

×3

Up to and INCLUDING the ankles, running the fingers between the toes. Right then left, three times each.

Closing du'a (Sunnah)

“Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʿabduhu wa rasuluh. Allahumma ij'alni min at-tawwabin wa-j'alni min al-mutatahhirin” — it opens the eight gates of Paradise (Muslim 234, Tirmidhi 55).

Obligations vs Sunnahs of Wudu

Obligations (Fard)

1. Intention (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali)
2. Washing the face (Qur'an)
3. Washing the arms up to the elbows (Qur'an)
4. Wiping the head (Qur'an)
5. Washing the feet up to the ankles (Qur'an)
6. Order (tartib) per Shafi'i/Hanbali
7. Continuity (muwalat) per Maliki/Hanbali

If an obligation is omitted the wudu is invalid and must be repeated.

Sunnahs (recommended)

• Bismillah at the start
• Siwak (cleaning the teeth with a twig)
• Washing the hands three times before anything else
• Rinsing the mouth (madmada) and nose (istinshaq)
• Running the fingers through a thick beard
• Running water between the fingers and toes (takhlil)
• Repeating each washing three times
• Starting with the right side (tayamun)
• Wiping the ears
• The closing du'a (it opens the eight gates of Paradise)
• Praying two rakats afterwards (Bukhari 159, Muslim 226)

What nullifies the ablution

These nullify Wudu

• Anything leaving the private orifices: urine, stool, wind, abnormal discharge
• Deep sleep (lying down, on the back)
• Loss of consciousness: fainting, intoxication, coma
• Touching the private parts with the bare palm (the majority of scholars)
• Apostasy (leaving Islam)
• Eating camel meat (some scholars only, based on Muslim 360)

These do NOT nullify Wudu

• Laughing (even in prayer, per the majority)
• Bleeding from a wound (majority)
• Slight vomiting (there is difference)
• Light drowsiness (the head nodding)
• Touching one's hair or nails
• Cutting one's nails or hair
• Touching a person of the opposite sex (majority, except Shafi'i)
• Eating (except camel, per some)

Ghusl — the full ablution

A complete washing of the body, obligatory in certain situations and recommended in others.

Obligatory ghusl (wajib)

• After marital intercourse
• After ejaculation (including involuntary: a wet dream)
• At the end of menstruation (hayd)
• At the end of post-natal bleeding (nifas)
• On conversion to Islam (strongly recommended)
• For the body of a deceased Muslim (by the community)

Recommended ghusl (mustahabb)

• Before Salat al-Jumuʿa (Friday)
• Before the two Eid prayers
• Before entering ihram for Hajj or Umra
• Before entering Mecca
• After washing a deceased person
• For the standing at Arafat on the day of wuquf

The procedure of Ghusl (prophetic Sunnah)

1Intention (niyya) + Bismillah

2Wash both hands three times (up to the wrists)

3Wash the private parts with the left hand

4Perform a complete wudu as for prayer (sometimes leaving the feet until the end)

5Pour water over the head three times, working it down to the roots of the hair

6Wash the right side of the body from head to foot

7Wash the left side of the body from head to foot

8Make sure the water reaches every fold (armpits, navel, ears, between the toes)

9Wash the feet at the end if not already done

Basis: the hadith of Aisha (r.a.) in Bukhari 248 and Muslim 316, describing the ghusl of the Prophet ﷺ.

Tayammum — the dry ablution

A substitute ablution permitted when there is no water or when water cannot be used. A mercy from Allah: “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty” (Qur'an 5:6).

When is it allowed?

• No water available (travel, desert, camping)
• Water available but needed for drinking
• An illness made worse by water
• Extreme cold with no warm water
• A wound or an immobilised limb
• Not enough time left before the prayer window closes

What can be used?

• Clean sand (desert, beach)
• Clean earth (garden)
• Stone (with dust on it)
• A dry wall (with dust clinging to it)
• Hardened clay
• Anything of the earth, according to the majority

The procedure (5 steps)

1
Intention + Bismillah
2
Strike both palms lightly on the clean earthy surface (one strike suffices, per the majority)
3
Blow on the hands to remove the excess dust
4
Wipe the face with both hands — once
5
Wipe the hands up to the wrists (or to the elbows, per some) — once

“The whole earth has been made a place of prayer and a means of purification for me.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 335, narrated by Jabir (r.a.)

Wiping over socks (Khuffs)

The Prophet ﷺ allowed an exceptional concession: wiping over the socks instead of washing the feet, subject to four conditions:

Having performed a complete wudu before putting the socks on
The socks must cover the ankles
Maximum duration: 24 hours for a resident, 72 hours for a traveller (counted from the first wudu invalidated after putting them on)
The wiping is done on the top of the feet (not under the sole)

If the socks are taken off, the wiping is void and a complete wudu with washing of the feet is required. This concession is authenticated by several hadiths (Bukhari 203, Muslim 274).

An interactive tutorial in BasiraLife

The Ablutions module walks you through step by step: 3D animations of the 11 steps, Bilal/Fatima's voice guiding you, reminders between prayers, a timer for wiping over socks, and a new-convert mode with detailed explanations.

Open the tutorial