📖 Complete Guide: Wudu & Salaah
A Step-by-Step Guide to Purification and Prayer
IslamicMessages.com
PART 1: HOW TO MAKE WUDU
(Ablution) — Purification before Prayer
"O you who have believed, when you rise to prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet up to the ankles."
— Quran, Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:6)
Niyyah (Intention) & Saying "Bismillah"
Stand before clean water. Make the intention in your heart that you are performing Wudu for prayer and to become pure. Begin by saying:
"Bismillah" — In the Name of Allah
Wash Your Hands (3 Times)
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, making sure to wash between your fingers. Start with your right hand, then your left.
🔄 Repeat 3 times
Rinse Your Mouth (3 Times)
Take water with your right hand and rinse your mouth thoroughly three times.
🔄 Repeat 3 times
Clean Your Nose (3 Times)
Sniff a little water into your nose and then blow it out. Use your right hand to take water and your left hand to clean your nose. Do this three times.
🔄 Repeat 3 times
Wash Your Face (3 Times)
Wash your whole face three times — from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin, and from ear to ear.
🔄 Repeat 3 times
Wash Your Arms (3 Times)
Wash your right arm up to the elbow three times, and then your left arm up to the elbow three times.
🔄 Repeat 3 times each arm
Wipe Your Head (1 Time)
Put water on your hands and wipe your head once, from the front to the back.
✅ Do once
Wipe Your Ears (1 Time)
Using the same wet hands, wipe the inside of your ears with your forefingers and the outside with your thumbs.
✅ Do once
Wash Your Feet (3 Times)
Wash your right foot up to the ankle three times, making sure to wash between your toes. Then wash your left foot three times in the same way.
🔄 Repeat 3 times each foot
Dua After Wudu (Supplication)
After finishing, recite the Kalima-Shahadah:
"Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh."
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
📋 Wudu Quick Reference Card
🚫 Things That Break Wudu
PART 2: HOW TO PERFORM SALAAH
(Prayer) — Connecting with Allah
"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times."
— Quran, Surah An-Nisa (4:103)
Niyyah (Intention)
Stand facing the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Makkah). Make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer you are about to perform.
Takbiratul Ihram (Opening Takbir)
Raise your hands up to your ears (for men) or shoulders (for women) and say:
"Allahu Akbar" — Allah is the Greatest
Qiyam (Standing)
Place your right hand over your left hand on your chest. Recite the following:
1. Dua Al-Istiftah (Opening Supplication):
"Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk"
2. Surah Al-Fatihah (Must recite in every rak'ah):
"Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alamin
Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim
Maliki yawmid-din
IyyaKa na'budu wa iyyaKa nasta'in
Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim
Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin"
3. Another Surah or verses (Recommended):
e.g., Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, or any 3 verses from the Quran.
Ruku (Bowing)
Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow down, placing your hands on your knees with your back straight. Recite:
"Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim" — Glory be to my Lord, the Great
🔄 Repeat 3 times (or more)
Rising from Ruku
Rise up straight while saying:
"Sami' Allahu liman hamidah" — Allah hears those who praise Him
Then stand and say:
"Rabbana wa lakal hamd" — Our Lord, all praise is for You
Sujood (Prostration)
Say "Allahu Akbar" and go into prostration. Touch the ground with your forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes. Recite:
"Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" — Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
🔄 Repeat 3 times (or more)
Sitting Between Sujood
Say "Allahu Akbar" and sit up from prostration. Rest briefly and recite:
"Rabbighfir li" — My Lord, forgive me
Then perform the second prostration the same way as the first.
Completing a Rak'ah
After the second prostration, stand up for the second rak'ah (repeat steps 3-7).
Number of rak'ahs for each prayer:
Tashahhud (Testimony of Faith)
After completing the final rak'ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud:
"At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh."
Salawat (Blessings on the Prophet)
Recite Salawat upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid."