The Complete Method of Wudu (Hanafi) and Its Hidden Virtues

Double Sawāb

No doubt, it is difficult to perform Wuḍū when it's cold or when we are tired or suffering from flu, headache or any other illness, but if someone performs Wuḍū in such a state of difficulty, according to Ḥadīš he will be awarded twice the Šawāb.

(Al-Mu'jam-ul-Awsaṭ-liṭ-Ṭabrānī, pp. 106, vol. 4, Hadīš 5366)

Method of Wuḍū (Hanafi)

It is Mustaḥab to sit on an elevated place facing Qiblaĥ. To make intention for Wuḍū is Sunnaĥ. Intention means to intend by heart. Verbal intention is preferable provided the same is present in the heart. Therefore, make intention as, "I am performing Wuḍū in order to fulfil the commandment of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ and to attain purity." Recite بِسْمِ اللّٰه as it is also a Sunnaĥ, rather say بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّٰہ, as angels will continue writing good deeds as long as one is in the state of Wuḍū.

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

Wash both hands up to the wrists three times each and afterwards do Khilāl (to intermix fingers of both hands to dampen the gaps) of the fingers (with the tap closed). Now use Miswāk three times in right & left, upper & lower teeth and after each cycle, rinse the Miswāk. Ḥujja-tul-Islām Imām Muḥammad Ghazālī عَلَيْہِرَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِالوَالِی says, "Whilst using a Miswāk, make intention to clean mouth for the recitation of the Holy Qurān and for the Żikr (Remembrance) of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ."

(Iḥyā-ul-'Ulūm, pp. 182, vol. 1)

Now rinse your mouth three times with handfuls of water (closing the tap each time) using right hand making sure that water reaches all parts of the mouth and gargle as well if you are not in fasting. Now sniff water three times in nose up to soft flesh using three handfuls (now half handful is sufficient) of right hand (closing the tap each time) and if not in fasting, snuffle water up to the inside end of the nose. Now clean the nose by left hand (keeping the tap turned off) and insert small finger inside holes of the nose. Wash the whole face three times such that water must flow on every part from the top of the forehead (the point where the hair naturally begins to grow) to the bottom of the chin and from one earlobe to the other. If one has beard and he is not in the state of Iḥrām (Special state for Ḥaj / 'Umraĥ) then do Khilāl (with the tap turned off) of beard by inserting the fingers into the beard from the neck and bringing them out towards the front. Now wash the right arm from the tips of the fingers up to (and including) the elbow three times and then wash the left arm in the same manner. To wash up to half of the upper arm is Mustaḥab. Most people take a small amount of water in their hand and pour it over their arm towards the elbow three times. But in this method, there is risk that water would not flow over the edges of wrist and arm. Therefore, wash arms as mentioned. In fact, doing this (without a valid justification) is wastage of water. Now there is no need to pour a handful of water over the arms. Now (with the tap closed) perform moistening of the head. This should be done by joining the tips of the three fingers, other than the index fingers and thumbs, of both hands and placing them on the top of forehead. Move back these fingers from forehead to the back of the neck without letting the palms touch the head. Each palm should then be placed on either side of the head and pulled across the sides back towards the forehead. During this, the index fingers and thumbs should not touch the head at all. Now use the index fingers to wipe the insides of the ears, the thumbs for the back of ears and the small fingers should be inserted inside the holes of the neck. Now moisten the back of the neck using the back of fingers of both hands. Some people, in addition, wipe the front of the neck, the forearms and wrists; this is not Sunnaĥ. Make a habit of turning the tap off before wiping the head. To waste water by leaving the tap open fully or partially is a sin. Now wash both feet three times, first the right and then the left, beginning from the toes up to the top of the ankles. It is Mustaḥab to wash up to halfway up the shin. To do Khilāl between the fingers of both feet is Sunnaĥ. The tap should be kept turned off during Khilāl. Its Mustaḥab method is to start doing Khilāl from little toe of the right foot to its big toe using the

small finger of the left hand, and then, doing Khilāl from the big toe of the left foot to its little toe using the same small finger of the left hand. (Common books)

Ḥujja-tul-Islām Imām Muḥammad Ghazālī عَلَيْہِرَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِالوَالِی says, "While washing each organ, one should hope that the sins of that organ are being washed away."

(Iḥyā-ul-'Ulūm, pp. 183, vol. 1)

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Also recite this Du'ā after Wuḍū (with Durūd Sharīf before and after it).

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

O Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Make me amongst those who repent abundantly and make me amongst those who stay clean.

(Jāmi' Tirmiżī, pp. 121, vol. 1, Hadīš 55)

All Eight Portals of Heaven get Open

One Ḥadīš mentions, "If a person does Wuḍū properly and reads Kalima-e-Shaĥādaĥ, all 8 portals of Heaven are opened for him and he may enter through any one he desires."

(Sunan Dārimī, pp. 196, vol. 1, Hadīš 716)

The Excellence of Reciting Sūra-e-Qadr after Wuḍū

One sacred Ḥadīš mentions, "If a person reads Sūra-e-Qadr once after Wuḍū, he will be amongst the Ṣiddīqīn and if he reads it twice he will be amongst the Shuĥadā and if he reads it three times, Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ will keep him with His prophets عَلَيْہِمُ السَّلَام on the Day of Judgement."

(Kanz-'Ummāl, pp. 132, vol. 9, Hadīš 26085, Al-Ḥāvī-lil-Fatāwa-liṣ-Suyūṭī, pp. 402, 403, vol. 1)

Eyesight Never Goes Weak

If a person looks up to the sky after Wuḍū and reads Sūra-e-Qadr, اِنْشَاءَاللّٰہُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ his eyesight will never become weak.

(Masāail-ul-Qurān, pp. 291)