Series of My First Day in Islam 1

How to Make Wudū’

(Ablution)
An Illustrated Explanation of How to Make
Wudū’ with Pauses of Reflection upon this
Great Ritual
 How to Make Wudū’
(Ablution)
An Illustrated Explanation of How to Make
Wudū’ with Pauses of Reflection upon this
Great Ritual
 Islamic Guidance & community Awareness Association in
Rabwah , 2024
Center , Osoul
How to Make Wud (Ablution) An Illustrated Explanation of How to Make
Wud with Pauses of Reflection upon this Great Ritual. / Center , Osoul - 1. .-
Riyadh , 2024
48p ; 14.8 X 21 cm
L.D. no. 1445/24866
ISBN: 978-603-8438-49-7

¨ The Center prepared and designed this edition.

¨ The center allows printing and publishing the edition by any means on condition
that indicating the source and avoiding changing the text.
¨ In the case of printing, the quality standards approved by Osoul Center have to
be followed.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate,
the Most Merciful
Introduction
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah’s
peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his
family, and all his Companions. To proceed,

Islam is the religion of purity, purity of the body, clothes,

and place from impurities, as well as purity of the soul from
sins, bad morals, and evil intentions.

Allah Almighty has prescribed Tahārah (ritual purification)

for Muslims on many occasions, including the time of
performing the prayer, which is a pillar of Islam and a
significant connection between a slave and his Lord.

Because of its great significance, Allah Almighty has

ordained noble introductions to precede it like the
proclamation of the Adhān (call to prayer) and wearing good
clothes, in addition to purification through Wudū’ (ablution),
Ghusl (ritual bath), and Tayammun (dry ablution).
 Allah Almighty says: {O you who believe, when you rise up for
prayer, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows; wipe
over your heads; and wash your feet up to the ankles. If you are in
a state of major impurity, cleanse yourselves [by taking a bath].
But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or
had sexual contact with women and find no water, then purify
yourselves with clean earth, and wipe your faces and hands
therewith. Allah does not want to impose hardship on you, rather
He wants to purify you and complete His favor upon you, so that
you may be grateful.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 6]
And the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
said: “Allah does not accept the prayer of anyone of you who is in the
state of Hadath (ritual impurity) until he makes ablution.” [Narrated
by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

Wudū’ (ablution) has many great merits, for it is half of Imān

(faith) and a means by which Allah Almighty erases sins and elevates
degrees. It is also one of the reasons for being admitted to Paradise
and it is light for the Muslim on the Day of Judgment and a cause for
untying the devil’s knots. Moreover, it is a special sign of this Ummah
(the Muslim nation) on the Day of Judgment, as Muslims shall come
on that day with radiant foreheads and feet and with their faces,
hands, and feet radiating light from the traces of ablution.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the
Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When
a Muslim, or a believer, performs ablution and washes his face, every
sin which he committed with his eyes will be washed away from his
face with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his
hands, every sin which is committed with his hands will be washed
away from his hands with water, or with the last drop of water; and
when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed
away with water, or with the last drop of water; until he finally comes
out cleansed of all his sins.” [Narrated by Muslim]
He (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that he heard
the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) say: “My followers will come on the Day of Resurrection with
radiant foreheads and feet from the traces of ablution.” [Narrated by
Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Contents
 Topics Page number

1 Tahārah (ritual purity) in Islam 11

2 Required Purity for Prayer 13

Rulings Pertaining to 17
3
Women:
The Etiquette of Answering the
4 19
Call of Nature
How to Make Wudū’ 23
5
(Ablution)
6 How to Make Ghusl from Janābah 34

7 Special Cases in Tahārah 35

8 Evaluation Questions 40
10
Tahārah (ritual purity)
in Islam:
Tahārah has a profound value in Islam, as it is not
restricted to material purification with water; rather, it
means purity and cleanness from filth and impurities,
both spiritual and physical.

As for spiritual purity, it is fulfilled by ridding the heart

of Shirk (associating partners with Allah Almighty), false
beliefs, and superstitions as well as by ridding the heart
of bad morals like envy, hatred, harboring ill thoughts
about Muslims, rancor, stinginess, treachery, etc.

Physical purity, on the other hand, is achieved by

being purified from material impurity, or from what
prevents the performance of some acts of worship like
the prayer, and this is called “Hadath” (ritual impurity)
in Islam. Hadath is removed either by making ablution,
by taking a bath in case it is major Hadath, or by making
dry ablution.

11
12
Required Purity for
Prayer:
Prayer is a private conversation between the slave
and his Lord. Therefore, when standing before his
Lord, a Muslim must be in his best state in terms of
purity, cleanness, and humility. For this reason, Allah
Almighty has made it obligatory upon the Muslim
who wants to pray to purify himself, his clothes, and
the place of his prayer from all types of impurities and
ritual impurity.

13
 Things that one who prays must be purified
from are:
The one who prays must first be purified from minor and major
Hadath (ritual impurity) and from material impurity, as clarified by
the following:

Hadath: It is an abstract description existing in the body, which

prevents prayer. It is divided into two categories, which are:

1 Minor Hadath: It occurs because of urinating, defecating,

passing wind, or sleeping. This kind of Hadath is removed by
making ablution.

2 Major Hadath: It is called Janābah. It occurs because of sexual

intercourse or the discharge of semen. It is removed by taking a
bath and washing the whole body with water.

14
 As for Najas: It means the material filth like urine, stool, and
running blood. It is removed by washing it with water until it
disappears.
Passing urine is called “Hadath”, whereas the urine itself is
called “Najāsah”.
The one who performs prayer must be purified from all types
of Hadath and Najāsah.

So, if he is in the state of minor Hadath (minor ritual

impurity), he must perform ablution.

However, if he is in the state of major Hadath (major

ritual impurity), he must take a bath.
Moreover, the one who prays must purify three things from
material impurities, which are:

His body

His clothes

And the place

of his prayer

15
16
Rulings Pertaining to
Women:
The woman is exactly like the man when it comes
to the rulings of Tahārah (purity); however out of His
wisdom, Allah Almighty has granted her the privilege
of menstruating, conceiving, and giving birth so that
mankind continues to populate the earth. The Sharia has
taken into account the woman’s physical and psychological
structure; hence, it exempted her from the obligation of
prayer during the period of menstruation and postpartum
bleeding (the blood discharged from the woman’s uterus
after childbirth). Therefore, the woman is not required to
make Tahārah or pray in these two cases; rather, she must
take a bath when the menstruation or the postpartum
bleeding stops.

If the woman’s hair is braided, she does not have to

unravel such braids when taking a bath from Janābah
(impurity due to sexual discharge), menstruation, or
postpartum bleeding if the water reaches the head and all
of the hair.

17
18
The Etiquette of Answering
the Call of Nature:
Islam has regulated every aspect of the Muslim’s life
to make him lead a superior life different from the life of
animals. It has even tackled issues that may never occur
to the mind of anyone who does not know Islam, like
answering the call of nature, which is a necessity for all
mankind.

19
 The following are from the etiquettes of
answering the call of nature in Islam:

Entering the bathroom with the left foot first while

reciting the relevant reported supplication that reads:
“Allāhumma inni a‘ūdhu bika min al-khubuthi wa al-
khabā’ith” (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the
male and female devils).

Coming out of the bathroom with the right foot first

while reciting the relevant supplication that reads:
“Ghufrānak” (I seek Your forgiveness).

Not facing the Qiblah or turning one’s back towards

it when answering the call of nature, and this is more
emphatic outside buildings

Covering the ‘Awrah (must-cover body parts) from

people when answering the call of nature, whether
inside or outside buildings.

Not answering the call of nature in people’s way, or in

the places where they sit, or anywhere that could be of
harm to them

Not answering the call of nature in stagnant water

Not answering the call of nature in animal burrows and

the like

Being careful not to let any of the urine fall on one’s

clothes or body

20
 Using the left hand in making Istinjā’, which is washing
the parts from where the urine and stool are discharged
with water, and in making Istijmār, which is wiping the
parts from where the urine and stool are discharged with
stones, tissue paper and the like

It is permissible to make Istinjā’ only or Istijmār only, and

it is permissible to make both together, and this is an
indication of how Islam makes things easy for its followers.

Islam directs a Muslim to care about his personal hygiene, including

cleaning his hands with water or any other available liquids after relieving
himself.

21
22
How to Perform Wudū’
(Ablution)
A practical illustrated explanation about
how to perform ablution.

23
 It is important for a Muslim to know the following
before ablution:

Ablution is not complete without intention. Intention is

not complete without sincerity. The place of intention is
one’s heart, not his tongue.

Sequent washing ablution members in order is required.

It is not right to ignore this order or delay washing its
members.

By scanning the barcode, you will see

the complete educational material of
how to perform ablution.

24
1 Niyyah (intention): Have the Niyyah,
i.e. intend with the heart without
uttering it, to perform ablution for
removing Hadath and the like. Ablution
is not valid without intention like the
one who intends to wash his organs
without recalling the intention of
worship, and we must do this with full
sincerity to Allah Almighty.

2 Tasmiyah (saying: In the name of Allah): It is prescribed to

make Tasmiyah at the beginning of the ablution by saying:
“Bismillāh” (In the name of Allah), then use the Siwāk (tooth-
cleaning twig) to clean your mouth if available.

25
 3

Washing the hands: Wash both

hands to the wrist three times,
starting with the fingertips to the
palm joint.

4 Madmadah, Istinshāq, and Istinthār:

A- Madmadah means: putting water in the mouth and
moving it inside, then spitting it out.
B- Istinshāq means: Taking water with the right hand and
sniffing it into the nostrils.

26
C- Istinthār means: blowing water out of the nose using the left
hand.
D- It is Sunnah to rinse the mouth and sniff water excessively
as long as we are not fasting.
E- There are two ways for rinsing the mouth and sniffing
water, which are:
¨ Wasl (doing both at the same time): It is by taking
one handful of water and using half of it for rinsing the
mouth and sniffing the other half, doing this three times
with three handfuls of water.
¨ Fasl (doing each separately): It is by taking a handful of
water for rinsing the mouth only, and for sniffing another
handful, doing this three times.

27
 5 Washing the face: The facial boundary extends lengthwise
from the natural hairline down to the end of the chin, and
breadthwise from one ear to another.

It is necessary to wash all the facial hair including the light

beard hair, the mustache, the eyebrows, the eyelashes, and
the ‘Anfaqah, which is the hair that grows below the lower lip.

28
 6

Washing the hands: Start by washing the right hand from

the fingertips, and wash between the fingers by entwining the
palms, then let the water reach the elbow and do the same with
the left hand.

29
 7 Wiping over the head: Wet both hands with fresh water,
then put those wet hands on the front of the head and move
them backward until reaching the nape, then move them
forward until reaching the place from where you started.
There is no difference here between the bald and the one
who has hair.

30
8 Wiping the ears: Wipe both ears with what is left of the water
used for wiping over the head. This should be done by putting
the forefinger inside the ear and wiping it and wiping over the
outside with the thumb. By this, you wipe the ears from the
outside and inside.

Wiping over the head along with the ears is to be done once.

31
 9 Washing the feet: Start by washing
the right foot from the tiptoes to
the ankles, which refer to the two
prominent bones on both sides of
the leg connecting the shin to the
foot, washing between the toes, and
carefully washing the heel, which is
the rear of the foot, in addition to
washing the outward part of the foot.
Then, wash the left foot in the same
manner as washing the right foot.

32
10 Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and supplication: It is Sunnah
for the Muslim to say the following after completing the ablution:
“Ash-hadu allā ilāha illallāh wahdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ash-
hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh” (I testify
that there is no god but Allah Who has no partners, and I
testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger).
He may add the following: “Allāhumma ij‘alni min at-
tawwābīn waj‘alni min al-mutatahhirīn” (O Allah, make me of
those who constantly repent and those who constantly purify
themselves).
Or:
“Subhānak allāhumma wa bihamdik, ash-hadu allā ilāha illa
ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk” (Glory and praise be to
You, O Allah. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your
forgiveness and I repent to You).

Notes:

1 Wiping over the head along with the ears should

be done once only, as for the remaining acts of
ablution, they are to be repeated three times, which
represents perfection, or two times, or once, which is
an obligation.

2 Observing the prescribed order in washing the body

parts in ablution is required; thus, no part should
precede the other in order.

3 Also observing the prescribed succession is

required; so, there should be no long interval
between washing one part and washing the part that
succeeds it.

33
 How to Make Ghusl from Janābah
There are two methods for making Ghusl (ritual bath) from
Janābah (impurity due to sexual discharge), which are: the
obligatory method and the perfect method. As for the obligatory
method, it goes as follows:

1 Intending, by the heart, to remove the state of major ritual

impurity by making Ghusl

2 Washing the whole body with water along with rinsing the
mouth and sniffing water into the nose
The perfect method, on the other hand, combines what is
obligatory and what is recommended in Ghusl, and it goes as
follows:

1 Washing your hands

2 Washing the private parts with the left hand

3 Performing a complete ablution, and it is permissible to

delay the act of washing the feet until the end of Ghusl.

4 Washing the head three times.

5 If the woman’s hair is braided, she does not have to

unravel these braids when taking a bath from Janābah,
menstruation, or postpartum bleeding, if the water reaches
the head and all the hair.

6 Washing the whole right side of the body

7 Then, washing the whole left side of the body

34
Special Cases in Tahārah
Tayammum (dry ablution):
One of the forms of facilitation in Islam is offering alternatives
to water in case the Muslim is incapable of having access to water
to make ablution or take a shower easily. An example is being
on a journey and having sufficient water only for drinking. Other
examples are being unable to buy water because it’s unavailable
or the inability to buy it because of its high price.
Further examples are when being incapable of using water due
to sickness and having no one to help with making ablution, or
in severe coldness that might harm a person, etc. In such cases,
tayammum, i.e., using dust for purification, is permissible.
How to Perform Tayammum
Intend to make Tayammum by the heart, then strike the dust
with both hands once, then wipe the whole face and both hands
with it.
The manner of making Tayammum is the same for both minor
and major ritual impurities. After making Tayammum, performing
all the acts of worship that require ritual purity becomes
permissible. However, once the water becomes available, or
there is an ability to use it, Tayammum becomes invalid, and it
becomes obligatory to use water for ritual purification.

1 2 3

35
 Wiping over Leather and Normal Socks:
If a Muslim is wearing leather socks or normal socks, he
does not have to take them off when making ablution. Rather,
it is sufficient for him to wipe over their outward surface with
his wet hands when reaching the part about washing the feet.
However, wearing them while being in a state of ritual purity is a
prerequisite, i.e., he must wear them after making ablution and
washing his feet; otherwise, he must take them off.

It is permissible for the resident to continue to wipe over them

for one day and night. As for the traveler, he is permitted to wipe
over them for three days and nights.

Resident: Traveler:
He wipes over his socks He wipes over his socks
for one day. for three days.

36
 Wiping over the Splint:
A splint here refers to the bandage used to bind up a broken or
injured body part. If this bandage is applied to any of the body
parts required in ablution, then it is permissible to wipe over it
with a wet hand while making ablution until there is no need for
that splint. It is not a prerequisite to put on the bandage after
performing ritual purification.

In case a portion of this organ is not covered by the splint and

there is no harm in washing it, then it should be washed while
wiping over the rest of it which is covered by the splint.

37
 Conclusion:
At the end of the verse that contains the command of
making Ablution, Ghusl, and Tayammum, Allah Almighty
says:

{Allah does not want to impose hardship on you, rather

He wants to purify you and complete His favor upon you,
so that you may be grateful.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 6]

This means: By ordaining Ablution when rising up for

prayer, ordaining Ghusl after Janābah, and ordaining
Tayammum when its conditions are met, Allah Almighty
does not want to

{impose hardship on you}, i.e., distress, difficulty, and

discomfort; rather, He wants to purify you by this, i.e., to
purify your souls from material and immaterial impurities
and remove whatever affects it from sins and filth. {And
complete His favor upon you}, i.e., He also wants to
complete His favor upon you, O believers, by what He
prescribes for you of the simple and easy rulings,

noble morals, and great religious duties, so you may

thank Him for His blessings, kindness, and legislations
because when you show Him gratitude, He grants you
more of His favor and blessings.

Finally, Allah knows best, and may His peace and

blessings be upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad.

38
39
 Evaluation Questions

1 Put (√) or (x):

Tahārah (purity) in Islam is restricted to one’s clothes, body, and

place of prayer.
Ablution may purify the slave of the sins committed by his eyes,
hands, or feet.

The menstruating woman is exempted from fasting but not from

prayer.

Moving the water inside the mouth and then spitting it out is
called “Istinshāq”.

It is impermissible to make Madmadah (rinsing the mouth) and

Istinshāq (sniffing water into the nose) at the same time with one
handful of water.

While washing the face in ablution, one is not required to wash his
forehead.
One of the common mistakes is forgetting to wash the back part
of the feet while making ablution.
The obligatory manner of making Ghusl from Janābah is by
washing the whole body with water along with rinsing the mouth
and sniffing water into the nose.
The manner of making Tayammum from minor Hadath is different
from the manner of making Tayammum from major Hadath.

Among the prerequisites of wiping over the leather socks is to

wear them while being in a state of ritual purity.
It is permissible to wipe over the splint until there is no need for it.

40
 2 Mention a piece of evidence on the obligation of
making ablution for prayer
..................................................................................................
..................................................................................................

3 If a Muslim prays without making ablution out of

forgetfulness, his prayer is:

Valid Invalid

4 Put (√) or (x):

1. Among the cases that require Tahārah are:

Fasting Prayer Remembering Allah

2. Cleaning the place from where urine and stool are discharged
with stones or tissue paper is called

Istinjā’ Istijmār Istinthār

41
 Evaluation Questions

5 Mention three of the merits of ablution

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

6 Complete:

1. The one who prays must be purified before praying from .........
...............................and .............................................................
2. The Etiquettes of answering the call of nature include:
.......................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................

3. We start performing ablution by saying ..............................., then,

we use ...................................... to clean the mouth, if available.

4. The duration of wiping over leather socks for the resident is.........
and for the traveler is ..................................................................

7 Islam has ordained physical and spiritual purification.

Mention one example for each.
..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

42
 8 What is Najis?
..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

9 What is the difference between Istinshāq and

Istinthār?
..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

10 Are you supposed to memorize a supplication after

making ablution?
..............................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

11 Mention the perfect and recommended manner of

Ghusl
..........................................................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................................................

12 What should one do if the prayer becomes due, but he

does not find water for ablution?
..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

43
 Ablution
the supreme
ritual
The Muslim surely knows that ablution is
one of the great rituals of Islam and a means
of being purified from sins and misdeeds.
Muslims shall be resurrected on the Day of
Judgment with radiant foreheads and feet
free from the traces of ablution. In fact, the
prayer of the believer, who must perform
ablution, is valid only with ablution. Hence,
ablution is one of the most important things
a believer should be keen on learning and
teaching others.

In this booklet, we tackled the topic of

Tahārah (purity) and Wudū’ (ablution) and
the manner of making them. Moreover, you
can see the manner of making ablution in the
visuals attached to this booklet.

44
45
Engage in a dialogue To download this book and other For further information
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 The Muslim surely knows that ablution is one of the
great rituals of Islam and a means of being purified from
sins and misdeeds. Muslims shall be resurrected on the Day
of Judgment with radiant foreheads and feet free from the
traces of ablution. In fact, the prayer of the believer, who
must perform ablution, is valid only with ablution. Hence,
ablution is one of the most important things a believer
should be keen on learning and teaching others.

In this booklet, we tackled the topic of Tahārah (purity)

and Wudū’ (ablution) and the manner of making them.
Moreover, you can see the manner of making ablution in the
visuals attached to this booklet.

To download this book and other

books through Osoul store: