💧 Fiqh of worship · Step 2 of 12
Wudu: what is required and what is sunnah
Allah tells us the parts of wudu in the Qur'an. The schools agree on most of it and differ on intention and order.
The ayah of wudu
Wash your faces and your arms up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles.
The required (fard) parts
| Point | Hanafi | Shafi'i |
|---|---|---|
Washing the face | Fard | Fard |
Washing the arms to the elbows | Fard | Fard |
Wiping the head | Fard: at least a quarter of the head | Fard: any part of the head, even a little |
Washing the feet to the ankles | Fard | Fard |
Intention (niyyah) | Sunnah | Fard, at washing the face |
Doing it in order | Sunnah | Fard |
Sunnahs of wudu (both schools)
- Saying Bismillah at the start.
- Washing the hands to the wrists first.
- Using a miswak or brushing.
- Rinsing the mouth and the nose (fard in ghusl for Hanafis, sunnah in wudu).
- Washing each part three times, starting with the right.
- Wiping the ears.
- The dua after wudu (in the Duas course).
✅ Check yourself
-
Is the intention (niyyah) fard in wudu?
Show the answer
In the Shafi'i school yes; in the Hanafi school it is sunnah.
-
How much of the head must be wiped?
Show the answer
Hanafi: at least a quarter; Shafi'i: any part.