In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

O you who believe, when you rise to perform prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet up to the ankles.

Al-Ma'idah: 6

How Do We Perform Wudu?

We begin with the intention, which is to intend in our hearts to perform Wudu in order to draw closer to Allah, the Exalted.

Then we begin the following actions:

First: We wash our faces from the hairline to the tip of the chin, making sure to wash from top to bottom, as shown in Figure (1).

Figure (1): Washing the face from top to bottom

It is recommended to supplicate while washing the face, saying:

O Allah, brighten my face on the day when faces become dark, and do not darken my face on the day when faces become bright.

Second: We wash the right hand from the elbow (the joint between the upper arm and the forearm) to the fingertips, making sure to wash from top to bottom, as shown in Figure (2).

Figure (2): Washing the right hand from top to bottom

It is recommended to supplicate while washing the right hand, saying:

O Allah, give me my record in my right hand, everlasting residence in the gardens with my left hand, and take an easy account of me.

Third: We wash the left hand from the elbow (the joint between the upper arm and the forearm) to the fingertips, making sure to wash from top to bottom, as shown in Figure (3).

Figure (3): Washing the left hand from top to bottom

It is recommended to supplicate while washing the left hand, saying:

O Allah, do not give me my record in my left hand, and do not make it shackled to my neck.

Fourth: We wipe the front of the head with the right or left hand, using the remaining moisture from Wudu. We do not take any additional water beyond the moisture remaining on the hand, as shown in Figure (4).

Figure (4): Wiping the head from the top to the hairline

It is recommended to supplicate while wiping the head, saying:

O Allah, cover me with Your mercy, Your blessings, and Your forgiveness.

Fifth: We wipe the top of the right foot with the palm of the right hand, from the tips of the toes to the joint, using the remaining moisture from Wudu, as shown in Figure (5).

Figure (5): Wiping the right foot from the tips of the toes to the joint

Sixth: We wipe the top of the left foot with the palm of the left hand, from the tips of the toes to the joint, using the remaining moisture from Wudu, as shown in Figure (6).

Figure (6): Wiping the left foot from the tips of the toes to the joint

It is recommended to supplicate while wiping the feet, saying:

O Allah, keep me steadfast on the Path on the day when feet slip, and make my efforts such that they please You.

Conditions for the Validity of Wudu:

1. The intention of seeking closeness to Allah, the Exalted.
2. The water used for Wudu must be pure.
3. The water used for Wudu must be unrestricted, meaning it must not be mixed with another substance in a way that changes its classification as water.
4. The water used for Wudu must be lawfully owned or permitted for use; it must not be usurped.
5. The container used for Wudu must be lawfully owned or permitted for use.
6. The container used for Wudu must not be made of gold or silver.
7. The parts of the body washed or wiped during Wudu must be pure.
8. There must be sufficient time to perform Wudu and the prayer.
9. The correct order must be observed between the parts of Wudu: the face must be washed first, then the right hand, then the left hand, followed by wiping the head and then the feet.
10. Continuity must be maintained between the parts of Wudu. This means the person performing Wudu must not leave such a time interval between one part and the next that the previously washed or wiped parts dry because of the delay before beginning the next part.
11. Wudu must be performed directly by the person themselves; another person must not perform it for them, except in cases of necessity.
12. There must be no reason preventing the use of water, such as illness, fear of thirst, or fear for one's own life or the life of another person whose life must be protected.
13. There must be no barrier preventing water from reaching the skin, such as grease or dye.
14. The area to be wiped must be dry.

Things That Invalidate Wudu:

1. The passing of urine or suspected moisture before performing Istibra.
2. The passing of feces.
3. The passing of wind from the natural outlet.
4. Sleep that overcomes both the senses of hearing and sight.
5. Insanity.
6. Unconsciousness.
7. Intoxication.
8. Anything that necessitates Ghusl, such as major ritual impurity (Janabah) and touching a deceased person.
9. Istihadah (irregular vaginal bleeding) in women.

Wudu Is Obligatory:

1. For every obligatory or recommended prayer, and for the Prayer of Precaution, except the funeral prayer.
2. For making up a forgotten prostration or Tashahhud.
3. For the obligatory Tawaf during Hajj and Umrah.
4. For touching the written text of the Noble Qur'an.