What is the correct method of performing wudu?

Published on: March 2, 2018

The Answer;

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

The best way to learn a practical action is to see one do it. Therefore, it is highly recommended to seek one who knows, and ask them to practically demonstrate this for greater clarity. Nevertheless, the correct way to perform wudu in accordance to Imam Abu Hanifa(ra), is as follows.

1. It is Mustaḥab to sit on an elevated place facing Qiblah.
2. To make intention for Wudu is Sunnah. Intention means to intend by heart. Verbal intention is preferable provided the same is present in the heart. Therefore, make intention as, “I am performing Wudu in order to fulfil the commandment of Allāĥ and to attain purity.”
3. Recite Bismillah as it is also a Sunnah, rather say, as angels will continue writing good deeds as long as one is in the state of Wudu. (Majma’-uzZawāid, pp. 513, vol. 1, Ḥadith 1112).
4. Wash both hands up to the wrists three times each and afterwards do Khilāl (to intermix fingers of both hands to dampen the gaps) of the fingers.
5. Now use Miswāk three times in right & left, upper & lower teeth and after each cycle, rinse the Miswāk. Ḥujja-tul-Islām Imām Muḥammad Ghazālī says, “Whilst using a Miswāk, make intention to clean mouth for the recitation of the Holy Qurān and for the Żikr (Remembrance) of Allāĥ .” (Iḥyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 182, vol. 1)
6. Now rinse your mouth three times with handfuls of water using right hand making sure that water reaches all parts of the mouth and gargle as well if you are not in fasting.
7. Now sniff water three times in nose up to soft flesh using three handfuls (half handful is sufficient) with your right hand and if you are not in fasting, snuffle water up to the inside end of the nose.
8. Now clean the nose by left hand and insert small finger inside holes of the nose.
9. Wash the whole face three times such that water must flow on every part from the top of the forehead (the point where the hair naturally begins to grow) to the bottom of the chin and from one earlobe to the other.
10. If one has a beard and he is not in the state of Iḥram (Special state for Hajj / Umrah) then do Khilal of the beard by inserting the fingers into the beard from the neck and bringing them out towards the front.
11. Now wash the right arm from the tips of the fingers up to (and including) the elbow three times and then wash the left arm in the same manner. To wash up to half of the upper arm is Mustahab. Most people take a small amount of water in their hand and pour it over their arm towards the elbow three times. But in this method, there is risk that water would not flow over the edges of wrist and arm. Therefore, wash arms as mentioned. Now there is no need to pour a handful of water over the arms. In fact, doing this (without a valid justification) is wastage of water.
12. Now perform Mas’a, moistening of the head. This should be done by joining the tips of the three fingers, other than the index fingers and thumbs, of both hands and placing them on the top of forehead. Move back these fingers from forehead to the back of the neck without letting the palms touch the head. Each palm should then be placed on either side of the head and pulled across the sides back towards the forehead. During this, the index fingers and thumbs should not touch the head at all.
13. Now use the index fingers to wipe the insides of the ears, the thumbs for the back of ears and the small fingers should be inserted inside the holes of ears.
14. Now moisten the back of the neck using the back of fingers of both hands. Some people, in addition, wipe the front of the neck, the forearms and wrists; this is not Sunnah.
15. Now wash both feet three times, first the right and then the left, beginning from the toes up to the top of the ankles. It is Mustahab to wash up to halfway up the shin. To do Khilal between the toes of both feet is Sunnah. Its Mustahab method is to start doing Khilal from the little toe of the right foot to its big toe using the small finger of the left hand, and then, doing Khilal from the big toe of the left foot to its little toe using the same small finger of the left hand.

Hujja tul Islam Al Imam Muhammad Ghazali(ra) stated, “While washing each organ, one should hope that the sins of that organ are being washed away.” (Iḥyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 183, vol. 1)

Make a habit of turning the tap off before wiping the head. To waste water by leaving the tap running fully or partially is a sin.

And Allah(swt) alone knows best.