Etiquette & Sunnahs of Wudu & Purification in the Quran & Sunnah

1. When you stand for prayer, wash as Allah commanded — face, hands to the elbows, wipe the head, and feet to the ankles.

Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

O you who believe, when you rise for Salāh, (prayer) wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and make MasH (wiping by hands) of your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of major impurity, cleanse yourselves well (by taking bath). If you are sick, or on a journey, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had sexual contact with women, and you find no water, then, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah does not like to impose a problem on you; He, rather likes to cleanse you and to complete His favour upon you, so that you may be grateful. (Surah al-Ma’idah 5:6)

Lesson: This single verse lays down the complete framework of wudu and ends by saying that Allah intends to purify you and complete His favour upon you.

2. Allah praised the people of Quba because they loved to purify themselves well.

Allah says:

لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ

Do not ever stand there (in prayer). In fact, the mosque that was founded on Taqwā (piety) from the very first day has greater right that you stand in it. In it there are people who like to observe purity; and Allah loves those observing purity. (Surah at-Tawbah 9:108)

Lesson: Thorough purification is not a small habit — Allah praised a whole community for loving it, and declared that He loves those who purify themselves.

3. Keep your garments pure as well.

Allah says:

وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ

and purify your clothes, (Surah al-Muddaththir 74:4)

Lesson: Purification in Islam covers the body, the clothes and the surroundings — purity is a way of life, not only a ritual before prayer.

1. Begin the wudu by mentioning the name of Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no wudu for the one who does not mention the name of Allah over it.” Begin with Bismillah.

2. Wash your hands three times at the start.

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan demonstrated the wudu of the Prophet ﷺ: he poured water over his hands and washed them three times before putting them into the vessel.

3. Follow the Prophet’s exact pattern of wudu — it carries forgiveness.

After performing the wudu in this manner, ‘Uthman reported the Prophet’s words: “Whoever performs wudu like this wudu of mine, then prays two rak‘ahs without letting his thoughts wander, his past sins are forgiven.”

4. Sniff water into the nose, and blow it out.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you performs wudu, let him put water into his nose and then blow it out.”

5. Wash every part completely — leave nothing dry, especially the heels.

Seeing men praying with dry heels, the Prophet ﷺ called out at the top of his voice: “Woe to the heels from the Fire!” — so wash the feet and ankles fully.

6. Run water between the fingers and the toes.

The Prophet ﷺ instructed that when you perform wudu, you should run your fingers through your fingers and toes so the water reaches everywhere.

7. Begin with the right side.

‘Aishah reported that the Prophet ﷺ loved to begin with the right in all his affairs — in wearing shoes, in combing, and in purification. Wash the right hand and foot before the left.

8. Use little water — the Prophet ﷺ made wudu with a single mudd.

Anas reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform ghusl with a sa‘ of water or so, and wudu with a mudd (about two handfuls). Extravagance with water is against the Sunnah, even at a flowing river.

9. Use the siwak with wudu.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Were it not that I would make it hard for my ummah, I would have commanded them to use the siwak with every prayer” — its place with wudu shows how strongly it is loved.

10. Guard your wudu and keep it as much as you can.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None guards the wudu except a believer.” Remaining in a state of purity is a sign of faith.

11. Your wudu will shine on the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet ﷺ said his ummah will be called on that Day with radiant faces and limbs from the traces of wudu — so wash the limbs fully and joyfully.

12. After wudu, pray two rak‘ahs — Bilal heard his own footsteps in Paradise because of it.

The Prophet ﷺ asked Bilal about the deed he had most hope in; Bilal said he never made wudu at any hour of day or night without praying with that wudu whatever was decreed for him.

13. Finish with the dua after wudu — the eight gates of Paradise are opened.

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh — I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. Whoever says this after a complete wudu, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him, to enter through whichever he wishes.

14. On waking from sleep, wash your hands before dipping them in the water.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever wakes up from his sleep should wash his hands before putting them in the water for ablution, because he does not know where his hands were during the night.”

15. Know what wudu is: the key of the prayer.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The key to the prayer is purification; its opening is the takbir, and its closing is the taslim.”