How should I perform ablution?

Audio

The sound of the adhān

{O you who believe, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.}

[Surat al-Mā’idah: 6]

No prayer is valid without ablution; no ablution is valid without intention; no intention is sound without sincerity; and sincerity lies within the heart, not on the tongue.

In the name of Allah

It is Sunnah to begin ablution with Basmalah (mentioning the name of Allah) and the use of the tooth-stick for cleaning one’s teeth, if conveniently possible.

We wash the hands three times, starting from the fingertips to the wrist joints.

We wash the hands up to the wrists three successive times.

We start with the right hand, washing it three times, then the left hand, washing it three times.

It is also permissible to alternate, washing the right hand then the left then the right then the left, and so on,

making sure that the water goes in between our fingers.

Then we move on to rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose.

Rinsing the mouth is done by taking some water into the mouth and swishing it around then spitting it out.

As to sniffing water, it is done by inhaling some water into the nose then blowing it out using the left hand.

It is Sunnah to do this thoroughly, unless we are fasting or we fear some harm from it.

There are two ways to rinse the mouth and sniff water:

Doing them together by taking a handful of water and using half of it for rinsing the mouth and sniffing with the other half.

We swish the water in the mouth then spit it out, and then we blow out the water we sniffed using the left hand.

We do this three times, using three handfuls of water.

Doing them separately by taking one handful of water and using it all to rinse the mouth then spit it out, then taking another handful and sniffing it in then blowing it out using the left hand.

After rising the mouth and sniffing water into the nose comes washing the face.

The borders of the face extend lengthwise from the usual hairline down to the end of the chin, and widthwise from one ear to the other.

It is obligatory to wash all facial hair, like the light beard, the mustache, the eyebrows, the eyelashes, and the hair that grows below the lower lip.

There are two ways for washing the face:

The first is that we fill the two cupped hands with water and wash the whole face with it, from the hairline to the end of the chin and from the right ear to the left ear. If the beard is thick, it is Sunnah to insert the wet fingers through it.

We do this three times for perfection, or twice, or at least once which is the obligation.

The second way is that we take water in the right hand only and put it on the face then we wash the face using both hands as in the first way. We do this three times.

Following the correct order in washing the body parts in ablution is obligatory; and so is washing them in succession, without a break. We wash them one after the other, without changing the order and without interruption.

After washing the face, we move to washing the arms.

The part of the arms that must be washed is from the fingertips to and including the elbows.

We start with the right hand from the fingertips and we wash between the fingers by intertwining the hands, then we let the water reach the elbow.

Then we wash the left hand in the same way, from the fingertips to the elbows.

Next is wiping the head. We wet both hands with new water then we place them at the front of the head and pass them to the back of the head and then return them to the front. There is no difference in this regard between a bald person and someone who has hair.

Then, we wipe the ears with what is left of the water on our hands after wiping the head. We do this once only.

To wipe the ears, we insert the index fingers inside the ears and wipe them and at the same time we use the thumbs to wipe the back of the ears, thus cleaning the front and the back.

Then we move on to washing the feet. The area that must be washed is from the toe tips up to and including the ankles, so washing the heels is obligatory.

We start with the right foot, washing between the toes and making sure to wash the heel, ankle, and top of the foot.

Then we wash the left foot in the same way, not forgetting to wash between the toes, and making sure to wash the heel and ankle fully.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

It is Sunnah after finishing ablution to recite dhikr and supplication and to add the following:

"Allāhumma ij‘alni min at-tawwābīn waj‘alni min al-mutatahhirīn" (O Allah, make me one of those who often repent, and make me one of those who often purify themselves).

"Subhānak allāhumma wa bihamdik; ashhadu an la ilāh illa ant; astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk" (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I ask You for forgiveness and repent to You).

Written on the screen

How do I perform ablution?

{O you who believe, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.}

[Surat al-Mā’idah: 6]

Washing the hands

Rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose

Rinsing and sniffing together

Rinsing and sniffing separately

Washing the face

The first

The second

Intention and Basmalah (saying Bismillah)

Washing the hands

Rinsing the mouth

Sniffing water into the nose

Washing the face

Washing the hands along with the elbows

Wiping over the head and wiping the ears

Washing the feet along with the ankles

Washing the hands

Wiping over the head

The head starts from the curve of the forehead and the usual hairline

The head ends at the hairline on the back of the neck.

Wiping the ears

Washing the feet

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

"Woe to the heels from the Hellfire! Perform ablution thoroughly."

[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger."

[Narrated by Muslim]

"O Allah, make me one of those who often repent, and make me one of those who often purify themselves."

[Narrated by At-Tirmidhi]

"Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I ask You for forgiveness and repent to You."

[Narrated by An-Nasā’i]

How can I pray?

Prayer from takbīr to taslīm

Audio

Sound of the iqāmah for prayer.

Sound of the iqāmah continues.

The first thing a worshiper does is have the intention, and its place is in the heart.

We face the qiblah. If you are leading the prayer or praying alone, put a Sutrah (barrier) in front of you.

Allāhu Akbar

The takbīr of ihrām, with which we commence the prayer. It must be pronounced by the tongue.

As we make takbīr, we raise our hands up to the shoulders, with our palms facing the qiblah.

Or:

We raise them up to ear level in the same way.

After the takbīr, we put our hands on the chest, or below the chest and above the navel, or below the navel. All of this is correct.

We place the right hand upon the left hand.

Or we grip the back of the left hand with the right hand.

Or we grip the left arm with the right hand.

"Allāhumma bā‘id bayni wa bayna khatāyāya kamā bā‘adta bayna al-mashriqi wal-maghrib; Allāhumma naqqini min khatāyāya kamā yunaqqa ath-thawbu al-abyadu min ad-danas; Allāhumma ighsilni min khatāyāya bith-thalji wal-mā’i wal-barad." (O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west; O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed from filth; O Allah, wash away my sins with snow, water, and hail.)

We make the opening supplication after the takbīr of ihrām and before the recitation. Other supplications were also reported for opening the prayer, and it is Sunnah to use them alternately.

"A‘ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaytān ar-rajīm" (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan)

The opening supplication is followed by seeking refuge from Satan then the recitation of Sūrat Al-Fātihah.

With tranquility and presence of mind, we recite one verse after another.

Āmīn

It is Sunnah to say it, whether one is an imām, or behind an imām, or praying alone. It is not a verse of Sūrat al-Fātihah; rather, an invocation meaning: O Allah, answer.

After Al-Fātihah, we recite some verses of the Qur’an, whether a whole sūrah or part of one. When we finish the recitation, we pause slightly before moving to rukū‘.

Allāhu Akbar

We make takbīr to move from standing to rukū‘.

This is the second place in prayer where the Prophet (pbuh) used to raise his hands. So it is Sunnah that we raise our hands to the level of the shoulders or ears.

We place our hands on our knees, parting our fingers as if we are gripping the knees.

We remain still during rukū‘, with our arms not touching our sides, and we do not turn our head to either side.

The back is straight not curved, and the head in line with the back, not tilted up or down.

"Subhāna rabbī al-‘azhīm" (Glory be to my Lord, the Majestic)

We repeat this glorification three times, which is the minimum of perfection. One glorification fulfills the duty, but we may add if we wish. We may use any form of reported glorification.

There are several forms of dhikr that may be said during rukū‘.

"Sami‘a Allāhu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him).

We say this as we rise from rukū‘, whether one is praying alone or as an imām.

We raise our hands to shoulder or ear level. This is the third place in prayer where the hands are raised.

Then we stand upright and say:

"Rabbanā wa laka al-hamd" (Our Lord, and praise be to You).

After rising from rukū‘, we may send our arms down or place them one over the other.

It is Sunnah to stay standing for a while after rukū‘ and be tranquil.

Allāhu Akbar

We then go down making takbīr to move from standing to prostration.

We may place our hands on the floor before our knees, or knees before our hands, whichever is easier for us.

We must prostrate on seven bones, as the Prophet (pbuh) taught us:

the forehead with the nose, the two hands, the two knees, and the two feet.

We keep the feet erect with the toes pointing towards the qiblah.

We keep the thighs apart, not touching the abdomen.

We keep the arms raised from the ground and not touching the sides, unless we are praying in a congregation and we fear to cause inconvenience to those next to us.

Our hands should be parallel to the shoulders or ears.

"Subhāna rabbī al-a‘la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).

We repeat this glorification three times, which is the minimum of perfection. One glorification fulfills the duty, but we may add if we wish. We may use any of the reported forms of glorification, and we may supplicate for whatever we wish of the good things of the worldly life and the Hereafter.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The closest a person gets to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so supplicate a lot."

Allāhu Akbar

We make takbīr as we lift our head from prostration.

We put our left foot flat and sit on it resting well, keeping our right foot upright with its toes towards the qiblah.

We keep both feet upright and sit on our heels.

We stretch our arms, placing the right hand on the right thigh and the left hand on the left thigh, close to the knees or on the knees.

"Rabbi ighfir lī" (My Lord, forgive me).

We say this supplication between the two prostrations as we sit tranquilly.

Allāhu Akbar

We make takbīr as we move down to make the second prostration, which is exactly the same as the first prostration.

Allāhu Akbar

We perform the second rak‘ah exactly as we performed the first rak‘ah:

the same position of the hands, recitation of Sūrat al-Fātihah and some verses of the Qur’an.

Then, we make rukū‘.

Allāhu Akbar

And we rise from rukū‘.

Allah hears whoever praises Him.

Then, we go down to prostration.

Allāhu Akbar

We make two prostrations and then sit for tashahhud.

Allāhu Akbar

After completing the second rak‘ah, we sit for the tashahhud in the iftirāsh posture (keeping the left foot flat on the ground and sitting on it, while the right foot is kept upright).

We sit in the iftirāsh posture in the tashahhud of any two-rak‘ah prayer, such as Friday, Fajr, and the two Eid prayers, as well as the first tashahhud of three-rak‘ah and four-rak‘ah prayers, and also when we sit between the two prostrations.

If someone cannot sit in this way because he has a big body or suffers foot pain or for any reason, he may sit in any way he can.

When we sit for tashahhud, we place our right hand on the right thigh, with all the fingers drawn in except the index finger to point with.

Or we make a circle with the thumb and the middle finger, pointing with the index finger.

As for the left hand, we either place it flat on the left thigh or join it together over the knee.

During tashahhud, it is recommended to keep looking at the index finger of the right hand.

"At-tahiyyātu lillah was-salawāt wat-tayyibāt. As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyy wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāh as-sālihīn. Ashhadu an la ilāha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh." (All greetings, blessings, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the good servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger).

We read only this first part of tashahhud when it is a three-rak‘ah or four-rak‘ah prayer.

In a two-rak‘ah prayer, such as Fajr, Friday, or Eid prayers, we complete the tashahhud by reading the Abrahamic invocation:

"Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta ‘ala Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd." (O Allah, bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your peace upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your blessings upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious).

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāh.

Taslīm is said after finishing the tashahhud and reciting the supplications reported in the Sunnah. But this applies in the two-rak‘ah prayers.

We hear "Allāhu Akbar" in a low voice.

In a three-rak‘ah prayer like Maghrib, or a four-rak‘ah prayer like Zhuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishā’,

we stand up after the first tashahhud to pray one more rak‘ah if we are praying Maghrib, or two more rak‘ahs if we are praying Zhuhr, ‘Asr, or ‘Ishā’. In these rak‘ahs, we recite Al-Fātihah and do everything we did before, in rukū‘, prostration, standing, and sitting.

Allāhu Akbar

The Prophet (pbuh) used to sit in a posture called tawarruk during the last tashahhud of every prayer consisting two tashahhuds.

Sitting in the tawarruk posture is done only in the last tashahhud of a three-rak‘ah or four-rak‘ah prayer. It has more than one form:

Placing the left foot flat on the ground and keeping the right foot upright, and letting them both out from the right side such that both hips are on the ground.

Or:

Placing both feet flat and letting them out from the right side.

Or:

Placing the right foot flat and placing the left foot between the thigh and shin of the right leg.

While sitting for the last tashahhud, we read the tashahhud then follow it with the invocation of peace upon the Prophet (pbuh).

After reciting the full tashahhud, and before making taslīm, we seek refuge with Allah from four things: the torment in Hellfire, the torment in the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the trial of the Anti-Christ.

And we supplicate Allah for whatever we wish of the good things of the worldly life and the Hereafter.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāh.

The prayer is not completed until taslīm is made.

By making taslīm, we have thus finished our prayer.

Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh.

When a person makes taslīm, it is Sunnah for him to ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness three times and then recite the dhikr reported from the Prophet (pbuh).

What is written on the screen

Whether you are leading the prayer or praying alone

The takbīr of ihrām

We raise the hands to shoulder level

or to ear level in the same way

We place the hands on the chest

Or above the navel

Or below the navel

We place the right hand over the left hand

Or we grip the left arm with the right hand

The opening supplication

"Allāhuma bā‘id bayni wa bayna khatāyāya kama bā‘adta bayna al-mashriqi wal-maghrib; Allāhumma naqqini min khatāyāya kama yunaqqa ath-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas; Allāhumma ighsilni min khatāyāya bith-thalji wal-mā’i wal-barad." (O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west; O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed from filth; O Allah, wash away my sins with snow, water, and hail) [Narrated by Muslim]

It is Sunnah to alternate between these forms of supplication

Isti‘ādhah

"A‘ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaytān ar-rajīm" (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan)

Al-Fātihah

{All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom You have blessed; not of those who incurred Your Wrath, or of those who went astray.}

Āmīn

This is an invocation that means: O Allah, answer.

We recite some verses of the Qur’an

Rukū‘

Allāhu Akbar

The back is straight, not curved

"Subhāna rabbiya al-‘azhīm" (Glory be to my Lord, the Majestic)

The reported dhikr in rukū‘ includes:

"Subbūhun quddūs, rabbul-malā’ikati war-rūh" (Most Glorious, Most Holy, the Lord of the angels and the Soul)

"Subhānaka rabbana wa bihamdik; Allāhumma ighfir lī" (Glory and praise be to You, our Lord; O Allah, forgive me)

"Sami‘a Allāhu liman hamidah" (Allah hears whoever praises Him)

"Rabbana wa laka al-hamd, hamdan kathīran tayyiban mubārakan fīh" (Our Lord, praise be to You; praise that is abundant, good, and blessed)

We may send our arms down

or place them one over the other

Prostration

The forehead with the nose

The two palms

The two knees

The two feet

"Subhāna rabbī al-a‘la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High)

"The closest a person gets to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so supplicate a lot." [Narrated by Muslim]

Iftirāsh sitting posture

Iq‘ā’ sitting posture

"Rabbi ighfir lī" (My Lord, forgive me) Three times

"Allāhumma ighfir lī, warhamni, wajburni, wahdini, warzuqni" (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, console me, guide me, and grant me provision)

Fajr

Jumu‘ah (Friday)

Eid prayers

Zhuhr

‘Asr

Maghrib

‘Ishā’

"At-tahiyyātu lillahi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu. As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāh as-sālihīn. Ashhadu an la ilāha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh." (All greetings, blessings, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the good servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger).

"Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta ‘ala Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd" (O Allah, bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your peace upon Abrāhīm and upon the family of Abrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your blessings upon Abrāhīm and upon the family of Abrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious)

Zhuhr - ‘Asr - Maghrib - ‘Ishā’

Fajr - Friday - the two Eids

"Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta ‘ala Ibrāhīm wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; innaka hamīdun majīd" (O Allah, bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your peace upon Ibrāhīm and upon the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your blessings upon Ibrāhīm and upon the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious)

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāh

"And when he sat up in the last rak‘ah, he would put forward the left foot, erect the other foot, and sit on his buttocks." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

Tawarruk sitting posture

"Allāhumma innī a‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhābi jahannam wa min ‘adhābi al-qabr wa min fitnat al-mahya wal mamāt wa min sharri fitnat al-masīh ad-dajjāl" (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the torment of Hellfire, the torment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the trial of the Anti-Christ) [Narrated by Muslim]

"Allāhumma innī zhalamtu nafsī zhulman kathīran, wa lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta, faghfir lī maghfiratan min ‘indika warḥamnī innaka anta al-ghafūr ar-rahīm" (O Allah, I have excessively wronged myself, and no one forgives sins but You; so grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful) [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

"Astaghfirullāh" (I ask Allah for forgiveness) - three times

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported: I heard the Prophet (pbuh) say: "The first thing of a person’s deeds that he will be held to account for on the Day of Judgment is his prayer. If it is good, he will succeed and win; and if it is bad, he will fail and lose." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasā’i]

Most Searched

Featured Works

صفة الوضوء والصلاة (مرئي)

Scan to Share