What are the sunnahs of wudu?
The main sunnahs of wudu are saying "Bismillah", using a siwak, washing the hands first, rinsing the mouth and nose, washing each part three times, starting with the right, wiping the ears, running water between the fingers and toes, saving water, and praying two rak'ahs afterwards. Your wudu is valid without them, but they add reward and make it complete.
Before you start
- Bismillah. Saying Allah's name at the start is a strong sunnah, and the Hanbalis even consider it required when you remember it.
- Siwak. The Prophet ﷺ said that if it would not be hard on his community, he would have ordered them to use the siwak before every prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 887). A toothbrush is a fine modern stand-in.
- Wash your hands first, three times, before putting them in any water container.
During wudu
- Mouth and nose. Rinse the mouth and sniff water into the nose, then blow it out. The Prophet ﷺ told a man to make wudu thoroughly, run water between his fingers, and sniff water deeply into the nose unless he was fasting (Sunan Abi Dawud 142).
- Three times each. Washing every part up to three times is sunnah; more than three is discouraged.
- Right before left. The Prophet ﷺ liked to start with the right in putting on shoes, combing his hair and purifying himself (Sahih al-Bukhari 168).
- Wipe the whole head (front to back and back again), then the ears, inside and behind.
- Between fingers and toes. Interlace your fingers and use a little finger between the toes.
- Go a little beyond. Washing slightly past the elbows and ankles makes sure nothing is missed.
- No waste. The Prophet ﷺ made wudu with about one mudd of water, roughly two-thirds of a litre (Sahih al-Bukhari 201). Turning the tap down is a sunnah you can practise every day.
After wudu
- The shahada dua. Saying the testimony of faith after wudu opens the eight gates of Paradise (Sahih Muslim 234). See What breaks wudu? for how long your wudu then lasts.
- Two rak'ahs. The Prophet ﷺ heard Bilal's footsteps in Paradise, and Bilal said his most hopeful deed was praying after every wudu he made (Sahih al-Bukhari 1149).
Don't let sunnahs become stress
If you're in a cramped school or office bathroom, the obligatory parts are enough and you can add sunnahs when it's easy. See How do I make wudu in a school bathroom? And if you find yourself repeating steps again and again "to be sure", that is not a sunnah at all. See What is waswas and how do I deal with it?
- Start with Bismillah, a siwak and washing the hands.
- Rinse mouth and nose, wash each part up to three times, right side first.
- Use little water and reach between fingers and toes.
- Finish with the shahada and, if you can, two rak'ahs.
People also ask
Does touching a dog break my wudu?
No, touching a dog does not break wudu. The schools differ on whether its saliva or wet fur is impure, so wash a licked spot before praying.
Read the full answer →Does touching a woman break wudu?
Whether touching a woman breaks wudu depends on the school: Hanafis say no, Shafi'is say skin contact does, Malikis and Hanbalis only with desire.
Read the full answer →What are the obligatory parts of wudu?
The obligatory parts of wudu are washing the face, arms to the elbows, wiping the head and washing the feet, plus what each school adds.
Read the full answer →How do I make wudu?
To make wudu, intend it, say Bismillah, wash hands, mouth, nose, face and arms, wipe head and ears, then wash your feet. A simple step-by-step guide.
Read the full answer →Is semen najis?
Semen is najis in the Hanafi and Maliki schools but pure for Shafi'is and Hanbalis. Either way, wash it off, and ejaculation still requires ghusl.
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