WUDOO (ABLUTION)



The messenger of Allah (Sala Allahu alaihi wa salam) said:

"The key to Paradise is prayer
and the key to prayer is cleanliness (Ablution)."

     (Tirmidhi, Transmitted Ahmad, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah )

HOW TO PERFORM WUDOO:
   

1. Make intention in your heart (Niyyah) and say "Bismillah".
2. Wash your hands three times: Ue left hand to wash right hand, up to and including the wrist, three times.Then, use right hand to wash left hand, up to and including the wrist, three times.
3. Rinse water in mouth three times: Cup right hand with water and put in mouth, then spit it out,  three times.
4. Snuff water in nose three times.
5. Wash face three times.
6. Wash forearms three times:Wipe right forearm with left hand, all the way up to and including the elbow, three times. Wipe left forearm with right hand, all the way up to and including the elbow, three times.
7. Wipe water over head/hair one time.
8. Wipe the inside and back of ears one time.Wash both ears at the same time.

Wash feet : Wash right foot, including the ankle, with left hand, three times. Wipe between each toe on right foot, with left hand pinky,one time. Wash left foot, including the ankle, with right hand, three times. Wipe between each toe on left foot, with right hand pinky, one time.    

WHAT INVALIDATES THE WUDOO:

Relieving oneself from the call of nature :

 " O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salât (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles. If you are in a state of Janâba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allâh does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful."

                                         (Al Maidah,6)

Passing gas:

"Allah does not accept the prayer of a person who has released gas until he makes a new ablution." A person from Hadhramaut asked Abu Hurairah, "What does releasing gas mean?" He answered, "Wind with or without sound."

                                [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

Sexual Relations :

One must perform ghusl after sexual relations, (when the male private part enters the female private part.)

Touching one's private parts with no barrier ( cloth) between the hand and organ.

In the event that you forget whether you have done wudu or not, err on the side of not re-performing wudu....  do not perform wudu again unless you are sure that you broke/invalidated it.

Do not skip over any of the steps of wudu

Generally make effort to remain in a state of wudu at all times, combined with thoughts on dhikr (the remembrance of Allah, swt).  For instance, do wudu each time after relieving oneself or after becoming angry.  Recognize the importance of being in a state of wudu before going to sleep.