Obligatory and sunnah Acts of Wudu (Ablution)

Obligatory and sunnah Acts of Wudu (Ablution)

Purification is a necessary condition for the Salah (prayer). This purification is accomplished through Wudu (ablution) and Ghusl (ritual bath).

This article is about Wudu, while Ghusl will be dealt with separately.

Meaning of Wudu:

The term Wudu is derived from the Arabic root word وضاءة (Wadha'ah), meaning clean, pure, and beautiful.

In the Islamic sense, Wudu is to wash specific parts of the body with intention of purification and these parts are face, hands, wiping over head, feet, and in specific order.

Mandatory (Obligatory) Acts of Wudu (Faraid of Wudu):

The mandatory acts of Wudu (Faraid of Wudu) are clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an and there is no dispute over them. Prayer will not be valid without these mandatory acts.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا قُمْتُمْ اِلَى الصَّلٰوةِ فَاغْسِلُوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ وَ اَیْدِیَكُمْ اِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَ امْسَحُوْا بِرُءُوْسِكُمْ وَ اَرْجُلَكُمْ اِلَى الْكَعْبَیْنِؕ-

Translation:

"O you who believe! When you intend to offer prayer, wash your faces and your hands to the elbows and wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles."

(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:6)

From the verse we can see that there are four important actions of Wudu:

• Washing the face - Much as this shows, from the beginning of the hairline on the forehead, down to the bottom of the chin, and from one ear lobe to the other ear lobe in width.
• Washing both arms - from the hands to and including the elbows.
• Wiping a quarter of the head (Masah).
• Washing both feet - including the ankles.

 

Obligatory and sunnah Acts of Wudu

Sunnah Acts of Wudu:

There are also Sunnah (recommended) acts of Wudu that are in the hadith:

1. Making the intention (niyyah) for Wudu
2. saying Bismillah at the beginning of Wudu
3. Washing both hands up to the wrists three times.
4. Put water in your nose (up and down) three times.
5. Use a Miswak (tooth-stick0.
6. Rinsing your mouth three times.
7. Using your fingers to comb through your beard.
8. Washing between the fingers and toes.
9. Wiping the entire head one time.
10. Wiping the ears.
11. Controlling the order of washing the limbs.
12. Doing Wudu in succession without letting each part dry to the other.
13. Washing each limb three times.
14. Starting with the right side of each limb.

Important Note:

If an obligatory act of Wudu is forgotten or not performed entirely properly, then your Wudu is not valid.

If any of the Sunnah acts is missed, then the Wudu is valid but not complete in virtue.