Wudu (Ablution)

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala said:

“O you who have believed! When you intend to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows and rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads and wash your feet to the ankles...” (5:6)

The obligatory parts of Wudu (ablution)

1. Intention (Niyyah): The intention to perform ablution for the purpose of purification for prayers or other acts of worship is essential. The intention is not verbally expressed, it should be present in the heart. Umar bin Al Khattab reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying “Actions are to be judged only by intentions and a man will have only what he intended…” (Abu Dawud). 
2. Washing the face once: Wash the face from the hairline to the chin horizontally and from ear to ear vertically. Make sure that water reaches all parts.
3. Washing the hands and arms once: Wash both hands and arms up to the elbows. Ensure that the water reaches all parts. 
4. Wiping over the head once: Pass wet hands over the head. Starting from the forehead to the back of the head, then returning to the starting point (to the front).
5. Washing the feet once: Wash both feet up to the ankles. Ensure that water reaches all parts.
6. Following the sequence: One should follow the sequence that Allah orders in His Book. Perform the ablution without interruption. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says “O you who have believed! When you intend to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows and rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads and wash your feet to the ankles...” (5:6)

The Sunnah of Wudu (ablution)

1. Saying Bismillah: it is recommend to start the Wudu with بِسْمِ اللهِ (In the Name of Allah) 
2. Using the Miswak (Tooth-stick): The Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) often used miswak before performing ablution and encouraged its used for ablution and oral cleanliness. It is narrated in Bukhari that Abu Huraira stated that the Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  said, “If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer.”

Narrated Humran: (the slave of Uthman) “I saw Uthman bin Affan asking for a tumbler of water (and when it was brought) he poured water over his hands and washed them thrice and then put his right hand in the water container and rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out. Then he washed his face and forearms up to the elbows thrice, passed his wet hands over his head and washed his feet up to the ankles thrice. Then he said, “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  said ‘If anyone performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two-rak'at prayer during which he does not think of anything else (not related to the present prayer) then his past sins will be forgiven.’” (Bukhari)

3. Washing the hands at the start of Wudu: It is sunnah to wash the hands at the beginning of the Wudu
4. Rinsing the mouth and nose: Rinse the mouth and snuff (taking water up into the nose and expelling it) water to the nose before washing the face. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever performs ablution should clean his nose with water by putting the water in it and then blowing it out…” (Bhukhari)
5. When washing the face, run the fingers through a thick beard: It was narrated from Uthman that: “The Messenger of Allah performed ablution and ran his fingers through his beard.” (Ibn Majah)
6. Ensuring the water goes between the fingers and toes: When washing the hands and feet make sure the water reaches between the fingers and toes.
7. Washing each part thrice: it is sunnah to rinse the mouth and nose, to wash the face, hands, arm and feet thrice. 
8. Going further in the washing the face and limbs: Abu Hazim reported: “I was (standing) behind Abu Huraira and he was performing the ablution for prayer. He extended the (washing) of his hand that it went up to his armpit. I said to him: O Abu Huraira, what is this ablution? He said: O of the tribe of Faruukh, you are here; if I knew that you were here, I would have never performed ablution like this; I have heard my Friend (ﷺ) say. In a believer adornment would reach the places where ablution reaches.” ( Muslim). Another hadith in Bukhari, narrated Nu`am Al-Mujmir: “Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Abu Huraira. He perform ablution and said, “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called “Al-Ghurr-ul- Muhajjalun'' from the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).’”
9. Beginning with the right side when washing the various parts: it is sunnah to start with the right side of the body parts then follow by the left side when performing ablution. Narrated Um-Atiya: That the Prophet (ﷺ) at the time of washing his deceased daughter had said to them, “Start from the right side beginning with those parts which are washed in ablution.” (Bukhari) Another hadith also in Bukhari narrated By Aisha stated that “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to like to start from the right side on wearing shoes, combing his hair and cleaning or washing himself and on doing anything else.”
10. Maintaining continuity: Perform ablution in a continuous manner by washing the parts in succession without interruption and maintain focus throughout the process. 
11. Being economical in the use of water:  One should avoid wastefulness and extravagance by using only the necessary amount of water when performing ablution. Anas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution with one Mudd and took bath with a Sa' up to five Mudds.” (Muslim)
12. Supplication after Wudu: It is sunnah to recite the following dua after completing Wudu.

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَريـكَ لَـهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّـداً عَبْـدُهُ وَرَسُـولُـهُ

“I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, Who has no partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger”

This hadith is narrated in Muslim “If anyone amongst you performs the ablution, and then completes the ablution well and then says: I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the eight gates of Paradise would be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.”

اَللَّهُـمَّ اجْعَلْنِـي مِنَ التَّـوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَـلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّـرِينَ

“O Allah, make me among those who turn to You in repentance, and make me among those who are purified.”

سُبْحـَانَكَ اللَّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَـيْكَ

“Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.”

13. Praying two Rakah following Wudu: Narrated in Bukhari that “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  said ‘If anyone performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two-rak'at prayer during which he does not think of anything else (not related to the present prayer) then his past sins will be forgiven.’”

The way of performing Wudu:

1. Make Intention
2. Say Bismillah
3. Wash the hands three times
4. Rinse the Mouth three time then rinse the nose three times
5. Wash the face three times
6. Wash the arms up to the elbows three times
7. Wipe over the Head once
8. Wipe the ears once (use the forefinger to wipe the inside and the thumb to the outside)
9. Wash the feet to the ankles three times
10. Recite the supplication

Notes:

• It is permissible to wash each part once, twice or thrice or some parts twice and some parts thrice. Narrated Ibn Abbas: “The Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution by washing the body parts only once.” (Bukhari). Another hadith narrated in Bukhari reported that Abdullah bin Zaid narrated that “The Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution by washing the body parts twice.” (Bukhari) 
• It is permissible to wipe over head cover, Khuff and socks when performing Wudu. If they were put on when the person was in a state of wudu. But if the socks are taken off, then the ablution is invalidated. Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu`ba: “I was in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  on one of the journeys and he went out to answer the call of nature (and after he finished) I poured water and he performed ablution; he washed his face, forearms and passed his wet hand over his head and over the two Khuff (socks made from thick fabric or leather).” ( Bukhari)

Things that nullify Wudu:

• Minor impurity such as passing of wind, urine, stool or discharge nullifies wudu and the person is required to perform Wudu again before praying or performing acts of worship that require ablution.  Narrated Ali: “I used to get emotional urethral discharges frequently and felt shy to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  about it. So I requested Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad to ask (the Prophet (ﷺ) about it). Al-Miqdad asked him and he replied, “One has to perform ablution (after it).””
• Loss of consciousness from deep sleep or drunkenness or illness breaks wudu. The individual is unaware of his or her surroundings. 
• Eating camel meat, Al-Bara bin Azib narrated: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  was asked about performing Wudu for camel  meat. He said: “Perform Wudu for it.” He was asked about Wudu after eating goat meat. So he said: "Do not perform Wudu for it.” (At-Tirmidhi)
• Touching the private parts with no barrier can invalidate Wudu. However, touching the private parts with a barrier does not nullify the ablution. It was narrated that Busrah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever touches his private part, let him perform Wudu.” (An-Nasai)

Things that do not nullify Wudu:

• Vomiting
• Bleeding from wound
• Touching the opposite gender: Narrated Abu Salama: Aisha the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I used to sleep in front o Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  and my legs were opposite his Qibla and in prostration he pushed my legs and I withdrew then and when he stood, I stretched them. Aisha added, “In those days the houses were without lights.” (Bukhari)
• Light nap while sitting or leaning: It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: “I prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) one night, and I stood on his left, but he made me stand on his right, and he prayed. Then he reclined on his side and took a nap, then the Mu'adhdhin came to him and he prayed, and did not perform Wudu.” (An-Nasai)

Things for which Wudu is Obligatory

• Prayer
• Tawaaf (Circumambulation) around the Kabah
• Touching the Quran

Things for which it is mustahab (recommended) to perform Wudu

• When a person has had intercourse and wants to eat, drink or sleep: A'isha reported: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to sleep after having sexual intercourse, he performed ablution as for the prayer before going to sleep.” (Muslim) 
• If a person has had intercourse and wants to do it again: It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘If anyone of you has  intercourse  with  his  wife, then he wants to do it again, let him perform ablution.’” (Ibn Majah) 
• When doing ghusl: Narrated Aisha: “Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) took a bath after Janaba he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body.” (Bukhari)
• When going to sleep: Nar​ra​ted Al-Bara bin Azib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer...” (Bukhari)