Wudu, Ghusl and Tayammum Step by Step

Wudu before prayer: Wudu (وضو) is the small washing done before prayer. It is done with pure water, in a fixed order, with the intention (Niyyah) of closeness to Allah — not just for prayer alone. The order must be kept: doing the steps in reverse order breaks the Wudu.

Wudu in six steps: First, make Niyyah — for closeness to Allah. Second, wash the face — from the hairline to the chin, from right to left. Third, wash the right arm — from the elbow to the fingertips. Fourth, wash the left arm — from the elbow to the fingertips. Fifth, wipe the top of the head — with the right hand, from front to middle. Sixth, wipe the top of the right foot — then the left foot — up to the ankle. (Tawdhih al-Masa'il, Issues 244–330.) — to be checked.

What breaks Wudu: Wudu is broken by passing urine or stool, passing gas, sleeping so deeply that you lose awareness, and any sexual discharge. The source course notes that touching one's private parts directly is a matter on which opinion varies — Ayatullah al-Sistani's ruling is that it does not break Wudu. When Wudu is broken, prayer must not begin until Wudu is done again.

Ghusl, the major bath: Ghusl (غسل) is the full bath that becomes Wajib in certain states. The source course lists six Wajib baths: after Janabah (sexual discharge, in sleep or wakefulness), after Haydh (menstruation ends), after Nifas (post-natal bleeding ends), for heavy irregular bleeding (Istihada Kathira), after touching a cold corpse of a Muslim (Mass al-Mayyit), and the washing of the deceased (Ghusl al-Mayyit, which is Wajib Kifa'i — a duty on the community). Without Ghusl, prayers performed in Janabah are invalid and must be repeated as Qadha. (Tawdhih, Issues 340–506.) — to be checked.

How Ghusl is done: There are two ways. Tartibi (sequential): wash the head and neck first, then the right side of the body, then the left side. Irtimasi (immersion): the whole body is submerged in water at once. Either way, water must reach every part of the body.

Tayammum when water cannot be used: When water is unavailable, or using it would harm you, Tayammum (تیمم) replaces both Wudu and Ghusl. Strike clean earth twice with both hands, wipe the forehead, then wipe the back of the right hand, then the left. (Tawdhih, Issues 652–714.) — to be checked.

Example

Ayesha wakes up for Fajr and her Wudu from the night is broken. She goes to the tap, makes Niyyah in her heart, washes her face, then her right arm, then her left arm, wipes her head, then wipes her feet — in that order. It takes one minute. Because she kept the order, her Wudu is valid, and her prayer is valid. One minute of care protects the whole prayer.

Key Terms

• Wudu (وضو) — the small washing before prayer: face, arms, head, feet
• Ghusl (غسل) — the full bath that becomes Wajib in certain states
• Tayammum (تیمم) — dry purification with clean earth when water cannot be used
• Janabah (جنابت) — the state after sexual discharge, which requires Ghusl

Quran or Hadith

Quran 5:6 — "O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet up to the ankles." — to be checked. This is the Quranic basis of Wudu.

Quran 4:43 — "Do not approach prayer while in Janabah — until you have performed Ghusl." — to be checked.

Imam al-Baqir (as): "Ghusl al-Janabah is obligatory — for whoever experiences sexual discharge — whether during sleep or wakefulness." — Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 45. — to be checked.

Fresh diagram to be drawn: A six-step Wudu diagram in order — Niyyah, face, right arm, left arm, head wipe, feet wipe — with arrows showing the fixed order and a red cross over the reversed order.