How to Do Wudu (Ablution) According to the Prophet, Salallahu Alaihi Wassalam

Ablution is something that must be done before Muslims perform prayersPrayer will not be valid if the person does not make ablutions.

Abdullah bin Umar (RA) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying: Allah does not accept a prayer without wudu, nor a charity from one who steals from the war booty.” (Muslim: 224).

Wudu is not only commanded to be done before prayer, but after waking up it is also recommended.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, when anyone of you wakes up, let him not put his hands in the food plate until he washes it three times, for he does not know where his hands were (while he was asleep).” (Bukhari: 162, Muslim: 237).IMG_1614

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: “When one of you wakes up let him snuff water in his nose and blow it out three times, because Satan spends the night on his nostrils.” (Bukhaari: 3295, Muslim: 238)

As for how the ablutions of the Prophet Muhammad are to be performed it is as mentioned in the following hadith:

Sa’d bin Zaid (RA) reported Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying: “No ablution (is perfect) for which (while performing) Bismillaah (with the name of Allah) is not mentioned.” (Abu Dawud: 101)

Aishah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah  (SAW) used to like to start with the right side in performing wudu cleaning, or purifying himself, combing his hair and wearing shoes. (Bukhari: 168, Muslim: 268)

Abdulllah bin Zaid bin Asim Al-Ansari (RA) was a companion of the Prophet (SAW). It was said to him: “Show us how the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to perform wudu. He called for a vessel (of water) and poured water from it on his hands and washed them thrice. Then he put his hand (in the vessel) and brought it (water) out, rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water in nose with one handful of water doing it three times. Then he took water in his hand and washed his face three times. Then he washed his forearm up to the elbows twice. Then he wiped his head from forehead to the back of head and then back to forehead. Then he washed his feet up  to the ankles, and said: “This is how the Messenger of Allah SAW performed wudu. (Bukhari: 185, Muslim: 235).

Uthman (RA) reported that Allah’s apostle (SAW) let the water flow through his beard  (Tirmidhi: 31).

Narrated Abdullah bin aid (RA) regarding the ablution of Prophet (SAW) that he wiped his head (with water) only once. (Bukhari: 186, Muslim: 235)

Narrated Abdullah bin Amar (RA) “Allah’s Messenger (SAW) wiped his head, inserted his index finger in his ears and wiped the exterior of his ears with his thumbs (Ibn Maja: 439, Tirmidhi: 36).

Narrated Abdullah bi Zaid (RA) regarding wudu: The Prophet (SAW) put his hand (in the utensil), he rinsed (his mouth) and sniffed up (his nose) from  one scoop (of water). He did that three times. (Bukhari: 191, Muslim: 235).

Laqit bin Sabira (RA) reported: I said: Allah’s Messenger (SAW), tell me about ablution. Thereupon he said: perform ablution complete (in all respect) and let water flow between the fingers, and snuff up water (in the nostrils) well except when you are observing fast. (Abu Dawud: 142, Tirmidhi: 38, Nasai).

Mustawrid bin Shadad (RA) reported: I saw that when Allah’s Messenger (SAW) performed ablution, he rubbed the fingers of his feet with the little finger (of his hand). (Tirmidhi: 40, Abu Dawud: 148, and Ibn Majah).  

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