WUDU' (ABLUTION)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

"In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful."

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

"May peace and blessings of Allah be upon you."

Wudu' (ablution) is a ritual ablution, cleansing certain limbs of the body from minor impurities using pure water. Wudu' is always a recommended act in Islamic rituals but it becomes obligatory in certain circumstances. For instance, it is obligatory before establishing the salat (prayers).

"O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles."

(Al Qur'an 5:6)

PERFORMING WUDU'

There are six fard or basic elements of wudu' and if any of these elements is missed, the wudu' becomes batil (void) and invalid. These elements are:

1. Reciting the niyyah or intentions for wudu'

 نَوَيْتُ رَفْعِ الْحَدَثِ اْلاَصْغَرِ ِللهِ تَعَالَ

Nawaitu raf'al hadathil asgari lilahi taala
"I cleanse myself from minor impurities for Allah, the Most High."

2. Wash the face. The face is what is between the forehead and chin, ear to ear.

3. Wash both arms up to the elbows.

4. Wiping part of the head (from the crown of the head to the hair-line. Wiping of the head can be performed on any part of the quarter of the head which is over the fore-head. The act of wiping can be done with one finger only, but it is recommended to use three fingers together. The water must reach the root of the hair).

5. Wash the feet up to the ankle.

6. Follow the above order. 

CONDITIONS OF WUDU'

1. Muslim

2. Mumayyiz (able to perceive between good and bad)

3. Clean from major impurities

4. Using water that is pure and unmixed (mutlaq).

5. The organs of wudu must be exposed, in other words, there should be nothing on them which might prevent the water from reaching the skin.

SUNNAH OF WUDU'

1. Start by silently saying:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

"In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful."

2. Washing both hands up to the wrist.

3. Rinsing the mouth.

4. Cleansing the nostrils by sniffing the water and blowing it out.

5. Begin washing the right limbs firsts.

6. Rub the while head with water or with wet hands.

7. With thumbs and fingers, rub both ears.

8. Wash all the limbs with wudu' three times.

9. Rub between fingers of the hands and feet.

10. After completion, saying the kalimah shahadah:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاإِلَــــهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ 

Ashhadu alla ilaha illalah, wa ashadu anna muhammadar-rasulullah

"I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is God’s Messenger." 

ANNULMENT OF WUDU'

1. Discharge of urine (and semen).

2. Stool.

3. Farting.

4. Menstruation and post-natal bleeding.

5. Sleeping.

6. Drunkenness from alcohol or drugs.

7. Unconsciousness.

8. Madness or insanity.

DUA AFTER WUDU'

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لآّاِلَهَ اِلاَّاللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًاعَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ. اَللهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِىْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِىْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu lasyarikalah, wa asshadu anna muhammadan 'abduhu warasuluh. Allahumaaj'alni minat tauwabina waj'alni minal mutatahhirin waj'alni min'ibadijas-solihin.

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is One and has no associate. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah, join me with those who repent of their sins again and again, and join me with those who keep themselves neat and clean at all times, and join me with those who are abiding."

والله أعلم

"Allah knows best."