بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR WUDHU

Wudu, or purification from minor impurities, is a condition for the validity of prayer. Without purification from minor impurities, the prayer performed under normal circumstances (not under concessions) is invalid because it doesn't meet the requirements. 

Wudu was prescribed on the night of Isra Mi'raj, along with the obligation of prayer. Wudu is prescribed because prayer is a form of communication with God, requiring a state of physical purity. (Abdullah Bafadhal Al-Hadhrami, Busyral Karim bi Syarhi Masa’ilit Ta’lim, [Beirut, Darul Fikr: 2012 CE/1433-1434 AH], vol. I, page 53). 

Here is the evidence that supports the commandment of wudu before prayer::

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ 

"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," (Surah Al-Maidah, verse 6).

Imam Muslim also narrated a hadith explaining the rejection of prayer without purification:

لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةً بِغَيْرِ طَهُورٍ

"Allah does not accept prayer without purification," (HR Muslim).

Imam Bukhari and Muslim also narrated a hadith with a similar meaning, which is the rejection of prayer without purification:

لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ 

"Allah does not accept the prayer of any one of you if he breaks his wudu, until he performs it again," (HR Bukhari and Muslim).

Here are the steps for performing wudu according to its obligatory actions:

1. Intention for wudu.

2. Washing the face.

3. Washing both hands up to the elbows.

4. Wiping part of the head.

5. Washing both feet up to the ankles.

6. Performing the steps in order.

These are the obligatory steps of wudu along with the recommended (sunnah) actions (Bafadhal Al-Hadhrami, 2012/1433-1434: I/58-66):

1. Using a siwak (toothstick).

2. Saying "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah).

3. Washing both hands.

4. Rinsing the mouth three times.

5. Inhaling water into the nose (istinsyaq) three times.

6. Articulating the intention.

Here are some phrases for the intention of wudu that can be said before washing the face (you can choose any one to recite):

نَوَيْتُ رَفْعَ الحَدَثِ لِلهِ تَعَالَى 

Nawaytu raf‘al hadatsi lillāhi ta’ālā. 

نَوَيْتُ فَرْضَ الوُضُوْءِ لِلهِ تَعَالَى

Nawaytu fardhal wudhū’i lillāhi ta’ālā. 

نَوَيْتُ الوُضُوْءَ لِلهِ تَعَالَى 

Nawaytul wudhū’a lillāhi ta’ālā. 

نَوَيْتُ الطَّهَارَةَ عَنِ الحَدَثِ لِلهِ تَعَالَى

Nawaytut thahārata anil hadatsi lillāhi ta’ālā.

7. Set your intention to perform wudu in your heart while washing your face.

8. Wash your face three times.

9. Wash your hands up to your elbows three times.

10. Wipe part of your head with water three times.

11. Wipe your entire head.

12. Wipe both of your ears three times.

13. Wash both of your feet up to the ankles three times.

14. Face the Qibla.

15. Recite the supplication after wudu.

Here is the supplication to say after wudu:"

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ، وَرَسُولُهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ، سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَأَتُوبُ إلَيْكَ 

Asyhadu an lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahū lā syarīka lahū, wa asyhadu anna Muhammadan abduhū wa rasūluhū. Allāhummaj’alnī minat tawwābīna, waj’alnī minal mutathahhirīna. Subhānakallāhumma wa bi hamdika asyhadu an lā ilāha illā anta, astaghfiruka, wa atūbu ilayka. 

Wudu is one way to purify oneself, aside from taking a full bath. Purification means being clean from impurities, even if they are considered pure, such as nasal mucus and phlegm, as well as inner impurities like envy, jealousy, and other internal dirt.

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Jazakumullah Khairan Katsiran

(May ALLAH reward you with much goodness)