What is wudu? The step-by-step guide to Islamic ablution

Before turning on the tap, pause and silently form the intention: *I'm making wudu for the sake of Allah, to pray*. The niyyah doesn't need to be spoken — it lives in the heart. Without it, the same washing is just hygiene, not worship.

Say *Bismillah* and begin:

1. Wash both hands up to the wrists, three times, working between the fingers. 2. Rinse the mouth three times, swilling water inside. 3. Rinse the nose — sniff water gently into the nostrils with the right hand, blow out with the left, three times. 4. Wash the face three times, from the hairline to under the chin and ear to ear. 5. Wash the right arm to the elbow, three times. Then the left. 6. Wipe the head once, with wet hands moving from the front to the nape and back. 7. Wipe inside the ears once, with wet index fingers. The thumbs go behind the ears. 8. Wash the right foot to the ankle, three times, between the toes. Then the left.

Finish with: *Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh*. Bukhari & Muslim taught this opens the eight gates of Paradise.

Once you've made wudu, it lasts until something specific breaks it:

• Anything coming out from the front or back passage (urine, stool, gas) • Deep sleep (light dozing while seated doesn't break it) • Fainting or losing consciousness • Heavy bleeding from a wound (Hanafi) — other schools differ here • Sexual contact requiring ghusl (full ritual bath) • Eating camel meat, per some schools

If any of these happen, you renew wudu before the next prayer. Sneezing, coughing, normal touching, eating other foods do not break wudu.

If you can't access water (travelling, ill, water unavailable), Islam allows *tayammum* — dry ablution with clean earth or stone. Strike both palms once on clean earth, blow off the excess, wipe over the face once, then strike again and wipe each forearm to the elbow.

Tayammum is a real concession, not a lazy shortcut. It is wudu in dry form, and the prayer that follows is fully valid.

Do I need to wash three times? Once is enough to fulfil the obligation. Three is the Sunnah. Many Muslims do once on weekdays and three on weekends — both are accepted.

Can I wear socks? If your feet were clean and washed before you put the socks on, you can wipe over them for up to 24 hours (resident) or 72 hours (traveller) — this is called *masah*. After that, you take the socks off and wash the feet.

What about make-up or nail polish? Water must reach the skin. Most modern make-up does allow water through. Nail polish is generally considered a barrier — you remove it, wash, and re-apply if you want.