Purification (Ṭahārah)
A step-by-step guide to Wuḍūʾ, Ghusl and Tayammum — obligatory and recommended acts, clearly separated.
The washing required before prayer and other acts of worship. Its four obligatory parts come straight from Qurʾān 5:6.
“O you who believe! When you rise to pray, wash your faces and your arms to the elbows, and wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles.” (Qurʾān 5:6)
Obligatory acts (farāʾiḍ)leaving one out invalidates it
Recommended acts (sunan)reward, but not required
Make the intention (niyyah) in the heart to purify oneself for worship.
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Say “Bismillāh” at the beginning.
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Wash the hands up to the wrists three times.
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Rinse the mouth (madmaḍah) three times.
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Rinse the nose by sniffing water and blowing it out (istinshāq) three times.
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Wash each washed part three times.
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Keep the Qurʾānic order and do the parts without long pauses (one after another).
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Wipe the whole head once, and wipe the ears with wet fingers.
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Run wet fingers through the beard and between the fingers and toes (takhlīl).
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Begin with the right side, then the left.
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When required
Required before ṣalāh, ṭawāf around the Kaʿbah, and touching the muṣḥaf. Recommended for many other acts, such as reciting Qurʾān and before sleeping.
What invalidates it
Broken by anything exiting the private parts (urine, stool, wind), deep sleep, and loss of consciousness. Renew wuḍūʾ before praying again.