Short answer
In the Hanafi school wudu has four fard (obligatory) acts, all named in Quran 5:6: washing the whole face, washing both arms including the elbows, wiping a quarter of the head, and washing both feet including the ankles. Miss one and the wudu is not valid. The other schools add acts such as intention and order.
The four fard of wudu are washing the face from the hairline to below the chin and from earlobe to earlobe, washing both arms including the elbows, wiping at least a quarter of the head, and washing both feet including the ankles. Washing means water flowing over the skin, at least two drops running off, not just a damp hand.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Six fard: intention, the face, the arms, wiping part of the head (even a few hairs), the feet, and doing them in order.
- Maliki
- Seven fard: intention, the face, the arms, wiping the whole head, the feet, rubbing the limbs (dalk), and continuity without a long break.
- Hanbali
- Adds intention, order, continuity, wiping the whole head with the ears, and rinsing the mouth and nose as part of the face.
Explanation
Allah lists the limbs of wudu (ablution) in one ayah: wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows, wipe over your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles. The Hanafi school takes exactly these four as fard. Everything else in the Prophet's ﷺ wudu is sunnah: see the sunnahs of wudu.
The exact limits, where people most often go wrong:
- Face: from where the hair normally starts on the forehead to under the chin, and from one earlobe to the other. Include the strip between the sideburn and the ear. A thin beard means water must reach the skin: see the beard in wudu.
- Arms: from the fingertips up to and including the elbows. Water must reach under a tight ring and every crease.
- Head: a wet hand passed over at least a quarter of the head, about the size of the palm. See wiping the head.
- Feet: up to and including the ankle bones, with the heels and the spaces between the toes. Or wipe over khuffs if you wear them: see khuffs.
Washing in Hanafi fiqh means water flowing over the skin. Wiping the arms with a damp hand is not enough. Anything that blocks water, such as paint, glue or nail polish, must come off first.
If you leave one spot dry, the wudu is not complete until that spot is washed: see a dry spot in wudu. For the full step by step method, see how to make wudu.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:6
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٦﴾
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
Names the four limbs whose washing or wiping is fard.
Sahih al-Bukhari 60
Sahih... ويل للاعقاب من النار ...
"Woe to the heels from the Fire."
Said to people who left their heels dry, showing that the whole foot must be washed.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Taharat, opening chapter on the fard of wudu. The four fard, with the limits of the face, arms and feet.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on the fard of wudu. Defines washing as water flowing over the limb.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on the obligations of wudu. The Hanbali additions of intention, order and continuity.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.