Guide
Wudu (Ablution) Step by Step, and What Breaks It
Before praying, a Muslim performs wudu, a brief ritual washing that establishes a state of physical and spiritual purity. It is quick — a minute or two — and follows a set order. This guide covers the essential steps in sequence, then explains what breaks wudu so you know when it needs to be renewed.
Intention and Bismillah
Begin with the inward intention to perform wudu for prayer, and say Bismillah (“In the name of God”). As with prayer, the intention is in the heart and need not be spoken.
1. Wash the hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, making sure the water reaches between the fingers.
2. Rinse the mouth and nose
Rinse the mouth three times, then draw a little water into the nostrils and blow it out, three times.
3. Wash the face
Wash the entire face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
4. Wash the arms
Wash the right arm from the fingertips to the elbow three times, then the left arm the same way.
5. Wipe the head and wash the feet
With wet hands, wipe over the head once, and wipe the ears. Finally, wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left foot. Washing the limbs in this order — face, arms, head, feet — is the sequence taught in the Qur'an.
What breaks wudu
Wudu remains valid until something nullifies it. The commonly agreed invalidators include:
- Using the toilet (passing urine, stool or wind).
- Deep sleep that removes awareness.
- Loss of consciousness.
Once wudu is broken, you renew it before your next prayer. If it is still intact, one wudu can cover several prayers.
When water isn't available
If clean water cannot be found or used (for example when travelling in a dry place, or due to illness), Islam permits tayammum — a dry ablution using clean earth or dust — as a concession, so that prayer is never made impossible by circumstance.