Chapter: Wuduʾ in its Complete Form

The one performing wuduʾ begins by washing his hands twice or three times before putting them into the container. He precedes—or accompanies—this with the basmala, saying: “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim.” Then he dips his hand into the vessel, scoops up a handful of water for his mouth and nose, rinses his mouth, inhales water into the nostrils, and blows it out. If he rinses his mouth with one handful and inhales water with another, that is permissible.

He should be thorough in inhaling the water—so long as he is not fasting—drawing it up into the nasal passages. He does this three times and also rinses his mouth three times. Should he rub his teeth, that is commendable.

Next he washes his face three times; the face extends from the hairline to the chin. Scholars have differed over the white area between the sideburn and the ear, yet my preferred view is that he wash it, along with the outer surface of his beard. He is not required to work water through the beard; it suffices that the flowing water reach the hanging part while he passes his hand over it.

He then washes his arms three times each, and he need not move his ring if it is loose. He includes the elbows in the wash, after which he wipes his entire head, placing both hands upon it without lifting them beyond the temples, beginning at the front of the head.