The Obligatory Acts of Wudu

There are six obligatory acts of wudu

1. Intention[1].

2. Washing the face[2].

3. Washing both hands and arms including the elbows[3].

4. Wiping any part of the head[4].

5. Washing the feet including the ankles.

6. Tartib (to observe the above-mentioned sequence).

The Intention:

Intention is to intend something simultaneously with the action; its place is in the heart. To make a verbal intention is a Sunnah; its time is at the beginning of washing the first portion of the face. Tartib (sequence) is to observe the sequence of the wudu, such that no latter limb of wudu should precede a former limb.

 The Sunnah Way to Perform Wudu (Ritual Ablution):

1. Recite taawwudh: I take refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaitan (to   recite Audhubillah completely), and basmalah: In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate (to recite Bismillah completely).

2. Wash the hands up-to and including the wrists three times.

3. Use the miswāk (tooth stick), and then rinse the mouth and nose out three times, with three handfuls of water. One takes in a mouthful from a handful of water and sniffs up some of the rest of the handful into the nostrils thrice.

4. Wash the entire face, from the point where the hairline usually begins to the chin in length, and from ear to ear in width, three times. It is obligatory to wash all facial hair – inner, outer, as well as the skin beneath the hair, whether the hair is thick or thin – such as the eyebrows, moustache and so forth except for a thick beard.

5. Wash both arms completely, up-to and including the elbows, three times. It is Sunnah to pass the fingers through each other.

6. Wipe the head by passing the wet hands from the front of the head, sliding the paired hands to the back up to the nape of the neck, and then return them to point of commencement, three times.

7. Wipe the inside of the ears with the fingertips and their outside with the thumbs, with fresh water, three times.

8. Wash the feet up-to and including the ankles, three times. Allow the water to pass between the toes by using the little finger of the left hand, beginning with the little toe of the right foot, and ending with the little toe on the left.

9. During wudu, it is Sunnah: - to wash the limbs successively, - to begin with the right when washing the arms and legs, but both hands, cheeks, or ears, are washed simultaneously, - to begin with the top of the face and not to splash the water onto it, - to avoid splashing water onto oneself, - to face the qiblah, not to talk except for a necessity, and - not to waste water.