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)

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)

The Excellence of Durud Sharif and the Blessings of Wudu

Excellence of Durūd Sharīf

The Prophet of mankind, the peace of our heart and mind, the most generous and kind صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has narrated, "Anyone who recites Durūd upon me three times in the day and three times in the night due to love and devotion for me, Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ will forgive the sins he committed during that day and that night."

(Attarghīb Wattarhīb, pp. 328, vol. 2, Hadīš 23)

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

The Intense Love of 'Ušmān-e-Ghanī رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ for the Exalted Prophet ﷺ

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā 'Ušmān-e-Ghanī رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ once asked someone to bring water at a particular place and performed Wuḍū. Thereafter, he صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم smiled and asked his companions if they knew why he had smiled. Then, he صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم himself answered, "When the beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Wuḍū at this very place; then smiled and asked his companions, 'Do you know why I smiled?' The companions replied, 'Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Rasūl صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم know the best.' The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'When a person performs Wuḍū and washes his hands, the sins of his hands are washed away; when he washes his face, the sins of his face are washed away; when he wipes his head, the sins of his head are washed away and when he washes his feet, the sins of his feet are washed away.'"

(Musnad Imām Aḥmad, pp. 130, vol. 1, Hadīṯ 415)

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you notice how the blessed companion’s عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَان would imitate every act and every Sunnaĥ of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with great passion? This narration also provides us a remedy for sins. اَحْمَدُ اللّٰہِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ rinsing the mouth results in the sins of the mouth being washed away, washing the nose results in the sins of the nose being washed away, washing the face results in the sins of the face including the eye lashes being washed away, washing the hands results in the sins of hands and those beneath the nails being washed away, wiping the head (and ears) results in the sins of the head and ears being washed away and washing the feet results in sins of both feet including those beneath the toenails being washed away.

Sins Wiped Away

Ḥaḍrat 'Allāmaĥ 'Abdul Waĥĥāb Sha'rānī رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ says that once Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Imām-e-A'ẓam Abū Ḥanīfaĥ رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ was in the Wuḍū area of the Jāmi'aĥ Masjid in Kūfaĥ where he saw a young man performing Wuḍū. Drops of used water of Wuḍū were trickling from his body. The Imām رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ said, "Son! Repent of disobeying your parents." The young man instantly replied, "I repent." The Imām رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ then saw drops of water dripping from the body of another man and said, "O brother! Repent from fornication." The man replied, "I repent."

The Imām رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ then saw drops of water dripping from the body of a third person and said, "Repent of taking wine and listening to music." He replied, "I repent." Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Imām Abū Ḥanīfaĥ رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ had been given the power of Kashf (spiritual insight) and was able to see the faults of people. He prayed Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ to take back this faculty of intuition from him. Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ answered his prayer and henceforth he could no longer see the sins of people being washed away during Wuḍū.

(Al-Mīzān-ul-Kubrā, vol. 1, pp. 130)

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

The Whole Body Purified

According to summary of two sayings of the Prophet of mankind, the peace of our heart and mind, the most generous and kind صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, "The person who begins Wuḍū by saying بِسْمِ اللّٰه, his whole body from head to toe gets purified and the one who does not say بِسْمِ اللّٰه before Wuḍū, only washed portion of his body gets purified."

(Sunan Dār Quṭnī, pp. 108, 109, vol. 1, Hadīṯ 228, 229)

Excellence of Sleeping in the State of Wuḍū

A Ḥadīš states, "The person who sleeps in the state of Wuḍū is similar to one who worships in the state of fasting."

(Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, pp. 123, vol. 9, Hadīš 25994)

The One who Dies in the State of Wuḍū is a Shahīd

The beloved and blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Anas رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ, "Son! If you have the capability of remaining in the state of Wuḍū all the time, then do so, because Shaĥādat is written down for the one whose soul is captured by the angel of death in the state of Wuḍū."

(Shu'ub Īmān, pp. 29, vol. 3, 2783)

A'lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُالرَّحْمٰن says, "Keeping Wuḍū all the time is Mustaḥab."

A Tip to Avoid Troubles

Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ said to Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Musa عَلٰی نَبِیَّنَاوَعَلَیْہِ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَالسَّلَام, "O Musa! You should take yourself to task if you face a trouble when not in state of Wuḍū."

(Shu'ub Īmān, pp. 29, vol. 3, 2782)

"Remaining in state of Wuḍū at all times is a Sunnaĥ of Islam."

(Fatāwā Raḍawiyyaĥ (Jad īd), pp. 702, vol. 1)

Seven Benefits of Keeping Wuḍū

Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُالرَّحْمٰن says, "Some saints رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰہُتَعَالٰی have said that anyone who stays in a state of Wuḍū at all times may be awarded with seven bounties by Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ:

1.     Angels will be enthusiastic to avail his company.

2.     The holy pen will keep on writing good deeds for him.

3.     His organs will perform Tasbīḥ of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

4.     He will never miss his Takbīr-e-Taḥrīmaĥ (first Takbīr of Ṣalāĥ).

5.     When he sleeps, Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ sends Angels who will protect him from the evils of jinns and human beings.

6.     He will feel easiness in severe fits of death.

7.     He will remain in the safeguard of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ as long as he is in the state of Wuḍū."

(ibid, pp. 702, 703)