Wudu

Wudu is the act of performing ablution before salat prayers as prescribed in Islam.

Method:
Start by making the intention for wudu by reciting -
"In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful"

Wash the hands up to the wrist making sure that no part of the hand is left dry

Rinse the mouth taking up water with the right hand (thrice)

Clean the nose by sniffing water into the nostrils with the aid of the right hand, and then ejecting the water with the aid of the left hand (thrice)

Wash the face from ear to ear, and forhead to chin (thrice)

Wash the arms thoroughly to the elbow, first right arm (thrice), then left (thrice)

Move the wet palms over the head, starting from the top of the forehead to the neck, rub the wet fingers into the groves and holes of both ears and pass the wet thumbs behind the ears, then pass the backs of the wet hands over the nape

Wash the feet thoroughly to the ankles paying extra attention between the toes, first right foot, then left

After completing the above steps recite -
"I testify that there is no God but Allah alone. He is One and has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his servant and messenger"

Although rk2001 has done an excellent writeup on Wudu, I felt that certain points needed to be made, and some information had to be added. Wudu is incumbent on every Muslim. Without it one cannot say one's Salat, touch the Holy Qu'ran and do many other basic Islamic acts.

Water which one may use to do Wudu:

• Rain water
• Well Water
• Spring, sea or river water
• Water of melting snow or hail
• Water of a big tank or pond

Water which was left over after drinking by humans, or halal animals is also clean. One may also use Zamzam water to perform his/her Wudu.

Water which one may not use to do Wudu:

• Any water with impurities
• Water from fruits and/or trees
• Water that has changed its color, taste, and smell and has become thick because something was soaked in it
• Water previously used for Wudu
• Water left over after drinking by animals which are not halal, and thus, haram (dogs, pigs, or animals of prey, for example)
• Water which a cat has left immediately after eating a mouse
• Water left by a person who has drank alcohol

Although this deal with water is largely irrelevant nowadays, it is still important for every Muslim to know, so he/she may know what to do on any given occassion.

Again, rk2001 has done a good job explaining how a proper Wudu is done, but some things need elaboration. There are four farz (compulsory) acts in Wudu, without which, ones Wudu will be incomplete. There are 13 sunnats (highly recommended) acts in Wudu, which, if left out, will result in the Wudu having less rewards and being less beneficial. There are five Mustahab (recommended) in Wudu, which, after doing so, will result in more rewards.

In addition, several things lessen the reward of Wudu and others nullify it altogether. There are four makroohs (cause the full blessings of Wudu to be lost) and eight nawaqise (break the Wudu) in Wudu.

The Farz:

• Washing the face from forehead to the lower portion of the neck and from earlobe to earlobe
• Washing both arms up to the elbows
• Doing Masah* of a quarter of the head once
• Washing both feet up to the ankles

*Masah:

• Wet the hands and fingers.
• Keep the middle finger, ring finger and pinky of each hand together, and keep the thumb and index finger raised and away.
• Keeping the thumb and index finger away from the head, pass the three fingers from the forehead to the upper portion of the nape.
• Place the palm of both hands on each side of the head, bringing them towards the forehead.
• Clean out the opening of your ear with the index finger, and the back of your ear with your thumb.
• Then make masah of your nape with the back of your middle finger, ring finger and the pinky.
• Finally, pass the fingers of both hands through eachother.
• There is also a masah for the feet which is done while washing the feet. Using the left pinky, clean between the fingers of your feet starting with the most right finger (the small finger on the right foot) and ending with the most left finger (the small finger on the left foot).

The Sunnats:

• The niyaat or intention before performing Wudu
• Saying Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim
• Washing each hand thrice up to the wrist
• Brushing one's teeth with a miswaak
• Gargling water three times
• Passing water into and through the nostrils three times
• To do khilal (passing wet fingers through the beard)
• Masah of the fingers and toes
• Washing of each part three times
• Masah of the whole head once
• Masah of both ears once
• Wudu which is done systematically
• Washing each part one after the other so as to prevent any one part from drying up before the entire Wudu is completed

The Mustahabs:

• To begin everything from the right side
• To make masah of the nape
• Not to take assistance from anyone
• To face the Holy Kaaba
• To sit on a clean and elevated place

The Makroohs:

• To make Wudu in a dirty place
• To clean the nose with the right hand
• To talk of worldly affairs while performing the Wudu
• To do Wudu against the Sunnat

The Nawaqise:

• Discharging urine, stool or anything coming out from the private parts
• Passing gas
• Vomiting a mouthful
• To fall asleep while lying down or by resting the body against something (If one falls asleep whilst sitting down, and he/she is not leaning on anything, the Wudu is not broken)
• To faint due to an illness or anyother reason
• Laughing aloud while praying Salat
• Bleeding in such an amount that the blood may flow from one area to another
• Becoming insane