Do I need to wash my elbows in wudu?
Yes, you wash your arms up to and including the elbows. The Quran says to wash your hands "up to the elbows", and the four schools understand this to include the elbow itself. The elbow is easy to miss because it is folded, so make sure water covers it fully.
What the Quran says
The wudu verse lists the parts of the body to be washed. The second one is the arms:
"Hands" here means the whole arm from the fingertips to the elbow. The four schools agree the elbow joint is included in what you wash, and not left out. It is the point where the washing ends, but it must be wet.
How the Prophet ﷺ did it
Humran, the servant of Uthman, saw Uthman make wudu: he washed his face and then his forearms up to the elbows three times, and he said this was how the Prophet ﷺ made wudu (Sahih al-Bukhari 159). The right arm comes first, then the left.
The Companion Abu Hurairah once washed a little beyond the elbows and said that this was how he saw the Prophet ﷺ do it (Sahih Muslim 246). Scholars differ on this: some say washing a little extra is recommended, while others say it is not needed. Everyone agrees that the elbow must be included.
Easy ways to miss the elbow
- Washing only to the middle of the forearm because of a short sleeve or a hurry.
- Letting water run off before it reaches the back of the elbow.
- Skipping the crease inside the elbow when you bend your arm.
- Leaving a sleeve rolled too low.
To avoid this, push your sleeves well above the elbow, then pour or rub water from the wrist up to the elbow and let the water drip off the elbow. Rings and watches can also stop water from reaching the skin. See Do I have to take off my ring or watch for wudu?
What if I realise I missed it?
A man once left a spot the size of a fingernail unwashed, and the Prophet ﷺ told him: "Go back and perform ablution well" (Sahih Muslim 243). So if you notice that you missed your elbow, wash it and carry on. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools also ask you to repeat the steps that came after it, because they require the order of wudu. The Hanafis and Malikis do not make the order obligatory, so washing the missed part is enough for them.
Wudu has other required parts too. See What are the obligatory parts of wudu?
- Wash each arm from the fingertips up to and including the elbow (Quran 5:6).
- The Prophet ﷺ washed his forearms to the elbows three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 159).
- Roll your sleeves well above the elbows.
- If you miss a spot, go back and wash it.
People also ask
Does eating camel meat break wudu?
It depends on your school: the Hanbali school says eating camel meat breaks wudu, while the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i schools say it does not.
Read the full answer →Do I need wudu after ghusl?
Usually no, you do not need wudu after ghusl. A proper ghusl already includes wudu, so you can pray right away unless something breaks it.
Read the full answer →Do I need ghusl if there was no ejaculation?
Yes, after intercourse you need ghusl even without ejaculation. If there was no intercourse and no ejaculation, only wudu is needed.
Read the full answer →Do I have to take off my ring or watch for wudu?
Usually not. A loose ring or watch is fine if water reaches the skin; take it off or move it if it is tight, so your wudu is valid.
Read the full answer →Do I have to say the intention out loud for wudu?
No, you do not need to say the intention for wudu out loud. Niyyah is in the heart, and deciding to purify yourself for prayer is enough.
Read the full answer →