How to Perform Wudu for Females? Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Perform Wudu for Females? ~ Hi, dear readers! I am sure you have heard of Wudu. Without Wudu, certain obligatory rituals, such as the obligatory prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, etc.), and recommended rituals (Sunnah prayers like Qabliyah and Ba'diyah) cannot be performed.

In several previous articles, I have discussed various aspects of Wudu. In this article, I will explain an important question often asked by Muslims, especially women: how to perform Wudu for females.

If we look into Islamic legal literature on Wudu, we will find that there is actually no difference between Wudu for women and Wudu for men. This means that both must perform the obligatory actions of Wudu, such as making Niyyah, washing their faces, and so on. They may also choose to perform the recommended actions in Wudu, such as gargling and inhaling water through the nose. Importantly, they should avoid anything that can invalidate Wudu, especially when they need to remain in a state of purity.

The Niyyah for Wudu for Females

If someone asks you, "How do you perform Wudu for females?" the answer is as follows:

The Niyyah for Wudu is:

نَوَيْتُ الْوُضُوْءَ لِرَفْعِ الْحَدَثِ الْأَصْغَرِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform Wudu to remove minor hadas, as an obligation, for Allah Ta'ala.

How to Perform Wudu for Females?

We can find an explanation of the mechanism for performing Wudu for females, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad, in the following hadiths:

عَنْ حَمْرَانَ : أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ دَعَا بِوُضُوْءٍ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْمِرْفَقِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : رَأَيْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوْئِيْ هَذَا . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Hamran, it is narrated that Uthman performed ablution. He washed his hands three times, then rinsed his mouth, inhaled water through his nose, and expelled it. After that, he washed his face three times. Then he washed his right hand up to the elbow three times, followed by his left hand in the same manner. He then wiped his head once and washed his right foot up to the ankles three times, followed by his left foot similarly. He said, "I have seen the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) perform Wudu like this." This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ فِيْ صِفَةِ وُضُوْءِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَاحِدَةً . أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ

From Ali (radliyallahu anhu), regarding the nature of the Prophet's (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Wudu, he said, "He wiped his head once." This hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرُو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا فِيْ صِفَةِ الْوُضُوْءِ قَالَ : ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأَدْخَلَ إِصْبِعَيْهِ السَّبَاحَتَيْنِ فِيْ أُذُنَيْهِ ، وَمَسَحَ بِأَبْهَامِهِ ظَاهِرَ أُذُنَيْهِ . أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

From Abdullah bin Amr (radliyallahu anhu), regarding the nature of Wudu, he said, "Then the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wiped his head, inserted his two index fingers into his ears, and rubbed the outer parts of his ears with his thumbs." This hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

If you understand the hadiths mentioned above, you can conclude that the following are some of the actions that women should perform for Wudu step by step:

1. Wash both palms three times.
2. Rinse the mouth three times.
3. Inhale a little water into the nose three times.
4. Expel the water inhaled from the nose three times.
5. Wash the face three times.
6. Wash both hands up to the elbows three times.
7. Wipe a portion of the head three times.
8. Wash both feet up to the ankles three times.

There are two other important points about Wudu that I would like to explain here. I believe all Muslims should know these two things:

• Wudu is one of the most special rituals that only the Prophet Muhammad has. We can find an explanation for this in the following hadith:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ : إِنَّ أُمَّتِيْ يَأْتُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرَّا مُحَجَّلِيْنَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الْوُضُوْءِ ، فَمَنْ اِسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيْلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Abu Hurairah (radliyallahu anhu), he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say, 'My people will come on the Day of Judgment with bright faces, like those who have performed ablution, from the effects of Wudu. Whoever among you can extend their brightness, let them do so.'" This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

• We are strongly encouraged to perfect Wudu. We can find an explanation for that in the following hadith:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : رَأَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا وَفِيْ قَدَمِهِ مِثْلُ الظَّفْرِ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ الْمَاءَ , فَقَالَ : اِرْجِعْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوْءَكَ . أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

From Anas bin Malik (radliyallahu anhu), he said, "The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) once saw a man with a spot on his foot that was not washed with water. He then said, 'Return and perfect your Wudu!'" This hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i.

Dear readers, that’s a brief explanation of "How to perform Wudu for females" and several other important points regarding Wudu. Do you understand? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

I believe that is all for this article. I hope it is useful. Amen!

See you again in the next article!