Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Farāiḍ, Sunan, Mustaḥabbāt & Makrūhāt of Wuḍū: A Complete Guide

Four Faraid of Wudu

1.     Washing the face

2.     Washing both arms including the elbows

3.     Moistening a quarter of the head

4.     Washing both feet including the ankles.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 3, 4, 5, vol. 1, Baḥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 288, vol. 1)

Definition of 'Washing'

Washing an organ means flowing of at least two drops of water on each part of that organ. If the organ is simply moistened by rubbing a wet hand over it, or if only one drop of water flows over a section of it then it will not be considered washed and the Wuḍū or Ghusl will not be valid in that case.

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 218, vol. 1, Baḥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 288, vol. 1)

Fourteen Sunan of Wuḍū

Some Sunan and Mustaḥab acts have already been mentioned under the heading "Method of Wuḍū (Ḥanafi)." Further details are as under.

1.     Making intention

2.     Reading بِسْمِ اللّٰہ. If بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّٰہ is read before making Wuḍū, angels will write good deeds for him as long as one is in the state of Wuḍū.

(Majma'-uz-Zawāid, pp. 513, vol. 1, Hadīš 1112)

3.     Washing both hands up to the wrists three times

4.     Using Miswāk three times

5.     Rinsing the mouth three times using three handfuls of water

6.     Gargling, if not in fasting

7.     Sniffing water into the nose three times using three half handfuls of water

8.     Doing Khilāl of beard (when not in the state of Iḥrām)

9.     Doing Khilāl of the hand fingers

10. Doing Khilāl of foot toes

11. Moistening the whole head only once

12. Moistening the ears

13. Maintaining the order of the Farāiḍ (i.e. washing the face first, then the arms, then wiping the head and then washing the feet)

14. Washing next part before the previously washed one dries.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 293, 294, vol. 1)

Twenty-Nine Mustaḥabbāt of Wuḍū

1.     Facing the Qiblaĥ

2.     Making Wuḍū at an elevated place

3.     Making Wuḍu sitting

4.     Stroking hand on organs while washing them

5.     Doing Wuḍū calmly

6.     Moistening the organs of Wuḍū prior to washing, especially in winter

7.     Avoiding taking assistance in making Wuḍū from anyone without necessity

8.     Rinsing the mouth using the right hand

9.     Sniffing water into the nose using the right hand

10. Using the left hand to clean the nose

11. Inserting the small finger of the left hand into the nostrils

12. Moistening the back of the neck using the back of the hands

13. Inserting the wet small finger of each hand into each ear whilst wiping the ears

14. Displacing the finger ring if it is loosely fit and it is sure that water has flowed on skin beneath it. If ring is snug fit, it is mandatory to displace the ring so that water may flow beneath it.

15. Doing Wuḍū before the beginning of the time of the Ṣalāĥ if one is not a Ma'zur-e-Shar'ī [Detailed rulings regarding Ma'zur-e-Shar'ī are presented ahead in this booklet].

16. For a person who performs Wuḍū perfectly i.e. whose no due part remains unwashed, taking special care for washing of inward corners of his eyes towards nose, ankles, heels, soles, thick muscles above heals, the gaps between fingers and elbows is Mustaḥab. For non-caring people, it is Farḍ to take special care for these parts as it has been observed that such parts often remain dry due to carelessness. Such carelessness is Ḥarām and to take care is Farḍ.

17. Keeping the loṭā (ewer) towards left side. In case of using a tub or dish for Wuḍū, keep it towards right side.

18. While washing the face, wide-spreading the water on the forehead such that some additional upper part may get washed

19. Enhancing the brilliance of face and

20. Arms and feet; this means spreading water over a bit more areas around the Farḍ areas, e.g. washing the arms to half length above If you'd like, I can also combine all of this into a single Word document for easier reading or reference.

21. Using both hands for washing the face

22. Starting from the fingers when washing the hands and feet

23. Wiping away droplets of each organ by hands after washing so that drops of water may not fall upon body or clothes especially when one has to enter a Masjid because dripping of Wuḍū water-drops on to the floor of the Masjid is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī

24. Remembrance of the intention for Wuḍū at the time of washing / wiping of organs

25. Reciting Durūd Sharīf and Kalima-e-Shaĥādat in addition to بِسْمِ اللّٰہ at the beginning

26. Do not unnecessarily mop the washed organs and if mopping is necessary, avoid drying them completely i.e. leave some wetness, because on the Day of Judgement it will be weighed with the pious deeds.

27. Do not jerk hands after Wuḍū to remove droplets of water as it is Satan's fan.

28. Sprinkling water on that part of Shalwār (A type of loose trouser) which is closer to urinary organ.

When sprinkling water on to the Shalwār, it is better to keep the front part of the Shalwār hidden under the kurtā. In fact, keeping this part of the Shalwār concealed during the whole Wuḍū and at all other times using Kameez or a shawl is closer to modesty.

29. Offering two Rak'at Nafl Ṣalāĥ after Wuḍū if it is not a Makrūĥ time. These Nawāfil are called Taḥiyya-tul-Wuḍū.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 293-300, vol. 1)

Fifteen Makruĥāt of Wuḍū

1.     Sitting in a vile place for Wuḍū

2.     Draining the water used in Wuḍū in a vile place

3.     Dripping water droplets from wet Wuḍū organs into ewer etc. (While washing the face, drops of water usually fall into water carried in the hands. This should be avoided.)

4.     Spitting saliva, phlegm or rinsing mouth in the direction of Qiblaĥ

5.     Using water in excess (Ṣadr-ush-Sharī'aĥ Muftī Maulānā Amjad 'Alī رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِعَلَیْہِ says in Baĥār-e-Sharī'at Part two, Page 23, Published in Madīna-tul-Murshid Bareilly Sharīf, "Half a handful of water is sufficient for sniffing into the nose, so taking a complete handful for nose is wastage.")

6.     Using so less quantity of water that Sunnaĥ cannot be followed. (Neither turn the tap on so much that causes wastage of water nor so less that causes difficulty in following Sunnaĥ; instead should it be moderate.)

7.     Splashing water on face

8.     Blowing onto water while pouring over the face

9.     Washing the face with only one hand as this is a custom of Rawāfiḍ and Hindus

10. Wiping the front of the neck

11. Rinsing the mouth or sniffing water into the nose using left hand

12. Cleaning the nose with the right hand

13. Using three sets of unused water to moisten the head three times.

14. Using hot water heated by sun beams

15. Closing the eyes and lips tightly. If these parts remained unwashed due to be kept tightly closed, the Wuḍū would not be complete. To abandon any Sunnaĥ of Wuḍū is Makrūĥ and to leave any Makrūĥ of Wuḍū is Sunnaĥ.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 300-301, vol. 1)

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