How to Make Wudu: Step-by-Step Guide (Hanafi)
Learn how to make wudu the Hanafi way: the four fard parts, the sunnah method from start to finish, what to recite after wudu and what breaks it, with the book and page for each point.
The four fard parts of wudu
Wash the face
From the hairline to below the chin and from one earlobe to the other.
Wash both arms
From the fingertips up to and including the elbows.
Masah of the head
Wipe at least a quarter of the head with wet hands.
Wash both feet
Up to and including the ankles.
This guide follows the Hanafi method as taught in Dawat-e-Islami’s books, such as Method of Salah and Bahar-e-Shariat. Fard of wudu: Laws of Salah, p. 8; Method of Wudu, p. 14.
How to make wudu, step by step
- Intention and BismillahFace the qiblah if you can, make the intention of wudu and say Bismillah (Laws of Salah, pp. 8–9).
- Wash your handsWash both hands up to the wrists three times.
- Miswak and mouthUse a miswak, then rinse the mouth three times, gargling if you are not fasting.
- NosePut water into the nose three times and clean it.
- Wash your face (fard)Wash the whole face three times, from the hairline to below the chin and from one earlobe to the other. Men pass wet fingers through the beard (khilal).
- Wash your arms (fard)Wash the right arm, then the left, from the fingertips up to and including the elbows, three times each, and pass the fingers between each other (khilal).
- Masah of the head (fard)Wipe over the whole head once with wet hands; wiping at least a quarter of the head is fard.
- Ears and neckWipe the ears, then the back of the neck with the backs of the fingers (Method of Wudu, p. 10).
- Wash your feet (fard)Wash the right foot, then the left, up to and including the ankles, three times each, with khilal between the toes.
Sunnahs and mustahabbat of wudu: Laws of Salah, pp. 8–11; Method of Wudu, pp. 10 and 14–15.
What to recite after wudu
Laws of Salah (p. 7) also mentions reciting Surah Al-Qadr after wudu, citing Kanz al-‘Ummal (26085), and two rak‘at of nafl after wudu are mustahab (Laws of Salah, pp. 9–11).
What breaks wudu
| What breaks wudu | Reference |
|---|---|
| Urine, stool or anything else that leaves the front or back passage, and wind | Method of Wudu, p. 43 |
| Blood, pus or yellow fluid that flows from the body | Method of Wudu, p. 24 |
| Vomiting a mouthful | Method of Wudu, p. 28 |
| Laughing aloud in a prayer that has ruku and sujood | Method of Wudu, p. 29 |
| Sleeping in certain positions, such as lying down | Method of Wudu, pp. 32–35 |
| Fainting | Method of Wudu, p. 43 |
Common mistakes
- Leaving dry spots on the parts that are fard to wash, such as the heels, the elbows and the edges of the face (Method of Wudu, p. 14).
- Skipping khilal between the fingers and toes, which is sunnah (Laws of Salah, p. 9).
- A layer on the skin or nails, or a tight ring, that stops water reaching beneath (Method of Wudu, pp. 26 and 57).
Frequently asked questions
What are the fard parts of wudu?
Four: washing the face, washing both arms including the elbows, wiping a quarter of the head, and washing both feet including the ankles (Laws of Salah, p. 8; Method of Wudu, p. 14).
What are the sunnahs of wudu?
Fourteen, including the intention, Bismillah, washing the hands three times, miswak, rinsing the mouth and nose three times, khilal of the beard, fingers and toes, masah of the whole head and the ears, and keeping the order without long gaps (Laws of Salah, pp. 8–9).
What breaks wudu?
Anything that comes out of the front or back passage, including wind; blood, pus or fluid that flows; vomiting a mouthful; sleeping in certain positions; fainting; and laughing aloud in a prayer that has ruku and sujood (Method of Wudu, pp. 24–43).
Can I make wudu if something covers my nails or skin?
No. If there is a layer that stops water reaching the skin, such as a coating left by henna, it must be removed and the place washed; a tight ring must be moved so water reaches beneath it (Method of Wudu, pp. 26 and 57).
What should I recite after wudu?
The kalimah shahadah and the dua “Allahummaj‘alni minat-tawwabin…”, given above, and Surah Al-Qadr (Laws of Salah, p. 7).
Sources
- Laws of Salah (Namaz ke Ahkam), Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri, Dawat-e-Islami (Maktaba-tul-Madinah), English edition: fard of wudu, p. 8; sunnahs, pp. 8–9; mustahabbat, pp. 9–11; recitations after wudu, p. 7.
- Method of Wudu (Hanafi), Dawat-e-Islami (Maktaba-tul-Madinah), English edition: fard and sunnahs, pp. 14–15; neck, p. 10; what breaks wudu, pp. 24–43; layers and rings, pp. 26 and 57.
- Hadith: Sahih Muslim 234; Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 55; Sunan ad-Darimi 716; Kanz al-‘Ummal 26085 (as cited in Laws of Salah).
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Last updated: October 2026