How to Perform Wudu — Step by Step Guide

Wudu (الوضوء — ablution) is the ritual purification Muslims must perform before prayer, touching the Quran, and certain other acts of worship. Allah says in the Quran:

"O you who have believed, when you rise to perform prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows, and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles."
— Quran 5:6

What You Need

Clean, pure water (tap water is fine)
Intention in your heart (niyyah)

Obligatory (Fard) Acts of Wudu

These are the four acts that must be performed. If any is missed, the wudu is invalid.

Washing the face — from the hairline to the chin, ear to ear
Washing the arms — from the fingertips up to and including the elbows
Wiping the head — at least a quarter of the head with wet hands
Washing the feet — up to and including the ankles

Step-by-Step Wudu Guide

Step 1 — Make the Intention (Niyyah)

Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for the sake of Allah. You do not need to say it aloud.

Step 2 — Say Bismillah

Say "Bismillah" (بِسْمِ الله) — "In the name of Allah." This is sunnah (recommended) but highly encouraged.

Step 3 — Wash Both Hands

Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, making sure water reaches between the fingers.

Step 4 — Rinse the Mouth

Take water into the mouth, rinse thoroughly, and spit it out. Do this three times.

Step 5 — Sniff Water into the Nose

Sniff water into the nostrils and blow it out. Do this three times.

Step 6 — Wash the Face

Wash the entire face — from the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear — three times. Men with beards should run wet fingers through the beard.

Step 7 — Wash the Right Arm, Then Left

Wash the right arm from the fingertips to the elbow, three times. Then wash the left arm in the same manner.

Step 8 — Wipe the Head

Using wet hands, wipe the head once from the front hairline to the back of the head and then back to the front.

Step 9 — Wipe the Ears

Using the index fingers, wipe the inside of the ears. Using the thumbs, wipe the outside and back of the ears. Do this once.

Step 10 — Wash the Right Foot, Then Left

Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, ensuring water passes between the toes. Then do the same with the left foot.

Step 11 — Recite the Shahada After Wudu

After completing wudu, say:

"Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh"
"I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger."

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs wudu well and then says [this Shahada], the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever he wishes." (Sahih Muslim)

What Invalidates Wudu?

Your wudu is broken by:

Passing wind, urine, or faeces (from the front or back passage)
Deep sleep (lying down and sleeping fully)
Loss of consciousness (fainting, anaesthesia)
Eating camel meat (according to the Hanbali school)

Note: Bleeding, vomiting, and touching the opposite gender do not invalidate wudu in the majority scholarly opinion (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i schools differ on some of these points).

Sunnah (Recommended) Acts of Wudu

These are not obligatory but earn additional reward:

Using the miswak (tooth stick) before wudu
Washing each part three times
Wiping the neck (not the throat)
Not wasting water
Not seeking help from others to pour the water
Facing the qibla

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I do wudu with bottled water?
Yes. Any clean, pure water is valid for wudu — tap water, bottled water, well water, river water, etc.

Q: Does wudu break if I touch my spouse?
This is a scholarly disagreement. The Hanafi position is that touching a woman does not break wudu. The Shafi'i position is that direct skin contact with a non-mahram of the opposite sex breaks wudu. Follow the ruling of your school of fiqh.

Q: How long does wudu last?
Wudu remains valid until it is broken by one of the invalidating acts listed above. There is no time limit.

Q: Do I need to repeat wudu for each prayer?
No — you only need to repeat wudu when it has been invalidated. One wudu can be used for multiple prayers.