Purification
Taharah — purification, the key to prayer
Wudu — the ablution, the key to prayer
"The prayer of a person who breaks wudu is not accepted until he performs the ablution." — Sahih al-Bukhari 135
How to make wudu
- ◆Intention & BismillahResolve in the heart to purify for prayer, and say "Bismillah".
- ◆Wash the hands ×3Wash both hands up to the wrists, three times.
- ◆Rinse the mouth ×3Take water into the mouth and rinse, three times.
- ◆Rinse the nose ×3Sniff water into the nostrils and blow it out, three times.
- ◆Wash the face ×3Wash the whole face — hairline to chin, ear to ear — three times.
- ◆Wash the arms ×3Wash the right arm to the elbow three times, then the left.
- ◆Wipe the head & earsWipe the head once with wet hands, and wipe inside and behind the ears.
- ◆Wash the feet ×3Wash the right foot to the ankle three times, then the left.
The dua after wudu
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʻabduhu wa rasuluh. Allahummajʻalni minat-tawwabina wajʻalni minal-mutatahhirin.
"I bear witness that none is worthy of worship but Allah alone, with no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, make me of those who turn to You in repentance, and of those who keep themselves pure." Say it and the eight gates of Paradise are opened for you. (Jamiʻ at-Tirmidhi 55)
Ghusl — when it is obligatory
A full-body bath (ghusl) is required after janabah (marital relations or a wet dream), and for a woman at the end of her menses (haid) or post-natal bleeding (nifas). "If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves." (Qur'an 5:6)
How the Prophet ﷺ made ghusl
Wash the hands, then wash away any impurity from the body. Make a complete wudu as for prayer. Run wet fingers through the roots of the hair, then pour three handfuls of water over the head, and finally pour water over the whole body, right side then left. (Sahih al-Bukhari 248)
Tayammum — when there is no water
If you cannot find water, or water would harm you (illness, severe cold), Allah permits tayammum: "…and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe your faces and your hands with it." It lifts hadath until water is available. (Qur'an 5:6)
How to make tayammum
With the intention, strike the palms once on clean earth or dust. Wipe the face with them, then wipe the hands (the backs of the hands up to the wrists). The Prophet ﷺ and his companions prayed with tayammum on their journeys. (Sahih al-Bukhari 344)
What breaks wudu
Anything that exits the private parts — urine, stool, or wind. Deep sleep, and loss of consciousness. (The schools differ on whether touching the opposite gender or touching the private parts nullifies it.) Renew wudu before you pray again. (Bukhari 135 · Qur'an 5:6)
Wiping over socks (masah)
If you put on socks or leather footwear while in wudu, at the next wudu you may wipe over them with wet hands instead of washing the feet — for one day and night as a resident, three days and nights as a traveller. Al-Mughirah (RA) saw the Prophet ﷺ do exactly this. (Sahih al-Bukhari 206)
For women — haid & nifas
During menstruation and post-natal bleeding a woman does not pray, fast or make tawaf. Missed fasts are made up later; missed prayers are not. When the bleeding ends she makes ghusl and resumes.
Clean body, clothes & place
Prayer requires that your body, garments and the spot you pray on are free of najasah (impurity). "And purify your garments." Wash off any impurity before you stand to pray. (Qur'an 74:4)