Sunnats of Wudhu

• There are 18 Sunnats in Wudhu. By fulfilling these Sunnats, one’s Wudhu will be perfected.
• Make the intention for Wudhu, e.g. “I am performing Wudhu to make Salaah permissible.”
• Recite Bismillah and then the Dua before Wudhu:

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاْلحَمْدُ لِلهِ

• It is Sunnah to recite the following Dua while performing Wudhu:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِي، وَوَسِّعْ لِيْ فِي دَارِيْ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِي رِزْقِيْ

• Wash both hands up to the wrists
• Clean the teeth with the Miswaak. If one does not have a Miswaak, rub the teeth with the fingers.
• Gargle the mouth thrice.
• Put water into the nostrils and clean the nostrils by blowing thrice.
• If one is not fasting, gargle and put water into the nostrils thoroughly.
• Wash each limb thrice.
• Make Khilaal (i.e. to pass wet fingers through) of the beard when washing the face.

Note: the Sunnah method of making Khilaal of the beard is that, after washing the face thrice, put the water in the palm, bring it to the chin and rub outwards from the jaw, passing the fingers through the beard and say:

هٰكَذَا اَمَرَنِي رِبِّيْ

• When washing the hands and feet, make Khilaal of the fingers and toes.
• Make Masah of the entire head once.
• Together with Masah of the head, make Masah of the ears.
• Rub the limbs when washing them, instead of pouring water over them.
• Make Wudhu in quick succession.
• Make Wudhu in sequence.
• Commence from the right side.
• Commence Masah of the head from the front.
• Make Masah of the nape. Do not make Masah of the throat. This is a Bid’ah.
• After Wudhu, recite the Shahaadah:

اَشْهَدُ اَلاَّ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّٰهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ

• And then recite the following Dua:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ.

Note: regarding the above Dua, Mullah Ali Qari Rahmatullahi Alaih has written in Mirqaat, commentary of Mishkaat, that, while Wudhu purifies one externally, this Dua is a supplication for internal purity. It is as though one is supplicating, “O Allah! We have cleansed ourselves externally, which was within our Power. O Allah! You now purify us internally as well, through Your Mercy.”

DUA FOR PROTECTION FROM ALL ILLNESSES

It is recorded in Shaami from the commentary of Munya that one should drink some of the remaining Wudhu water and recite the following Dua thereafter:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اشْفِنِيْ بِشِفَائِكَ وَدَاوِنِيْ بِدَوَائِكَ وَاعْصِمْنيِ مِنَ اْلوَهْلِ وَالْأَمْرَاْضِ وَاْلأَوْجَاعِ

O Allah, cure me through your cure, treat me with your medication, and protect me from weakness, illness and hunger.