SIMPLIFIED MANNERS OF PERFORMING ABLUTION
Allowing water to reach the necessary places it should reach during ablution such as the hollows between the fingers and feet, the hollows in the face, the heels, etc. [Al-Bukhaaree: 161; Muslim: 26].
Not using what may prevent water from reaching where it should reach in the limbs such as finger paints, candle wax, etc.
Being considerate with the use of water [Saheeh Jaami: 2396]; even if one were to be on the beach or bank of a river [Saheehah: 3292; Al-Imaam An-Nawawi, Shar'h Muslim: 2/241].
It is compulsory to start from the right limbs before the left ones; e.g. the right hand before the left hand. [Saheeh Jaami: 454].
Washing the limbs one after the other as it has come in the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, this may not be observed sometimes [Sunan Abee Daawud: 121/145].
Allowing water to reach the root of the hair (of the head and jaw), this is meritorious except in the case of a person with much hair on his head and jaw, then in his case, he must let water reach the root during bath.
Using chewing stick (or tooth brush) before the commencement of the ablution; this is a great recommended practice. [Saheeh Jaami: 2/5319]. It is not permissible to use the fingers in place of the chewing stick.
It is imperative to come with the intention whose place is the heart; saying it on the tongue is an innovation [Bukhaaree and Muslim].
Saying the basmalah (that is, bismillaahi not bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem) before the commencement of the ablution; it is compulsory to do so [Ahmad, Aboo Daawud, Ibn Maajah, Al-Hakim; see Saheeh Jaami (7514) for its authentication].
Washing the palms up to the wrists three times; this is recommended. The washing becomes highly recommended when one wakes up from the night sleep (some scholars say from any sleep) – [Saheeh Jaami (332)].
Sniffing water into the nostrils then sniffing it out; this is imperative [Saheeh Abee Daawud: 131]. The sniffing in and out is done three times with three handfuls of water (not six!) - [Saheeh Abee Daawud (102)].
Sniffing in the water well is a recommended act except if one is fasting [Saheeh Jaami (927)].
Sniffing out the water is done with the left hand.
Washing the face once, this is what is compulsory. The face starts from where the hair of the forehead starts from and ends by the jaw; also from point of one ear to the other. It is recommended to wash the face three times [Tanbeehul-ghaafil p. 54].
Dipping water into the beard is compulsory [Saheeh Jaami (4696)].
Washing the neck is a prohibited act [Tanbeehul-ghaafil p. 58]; rather it is an exaggerated show of piety.
Washing the hands up to the elbows; it is compulsory to wash it one time, it is recommended to wash it three times but washing the hollows of the fingers therein is imperative [Saheeh Tar'gheeb: 218].
It is compulsory to move the ring if it is tight on the finger; to allow water to reach where it is on the finger [Tanbeehul-ghaafil p. 62].
Washing all the head is compulsory – from the forehead to the back, or vice-versa. The washing should be done one time. The washing of the head can also be done two or three times; this is recommended [Saheeh Abee Daawud (117)]. The ears are simultaneously washed with the head – the fingers next to the thumbs and dipped into the inner-ear while the thumbs are used to wash the outer-ear including the surface (the hollows therein) and the back [Tanbeehul-ghaafil p. 70].
Wiping over the turban is permissible (alongside the forelock), there is no condition nor timing (like saying one must have been under an ablution, etc.), it applies to both men and women (the hijaab in the case of the latter).
Wiping over the two ears with the left-over water from the washing of the hands [Saheeh Abee Daawud (131)]. Washing them once is imperative because the ears are considered parts of the head [the hadith that has come over that is authentic {Tanbeehul-ghaafil p. 72}], this is according to the text of the Sunnah. It is not correct to renew water for washing the ears. Wiping the ears three times is an innovation. The in and out of the ears should be washed.
23. Washing the two legs with their heels once is compulsory, it is recommended to wash them three times (as apparent in the hadith of Uthman bn Affaan [may Allaah be pleased with him] while he was demonstrating the Prophet's manner of performing ablution), but washing the hollows of the toes therein is compulsory. The little finger on the right hand can be used to trace the hollows between the toes [Saheeh Jaami (4700) and Ath-Thamar al-Mustataab (11)].
It is correct to wash each limb (except as otherwise stated) twice [Al-Bukhaaree: 158] or once [Al-Bukhaaree: 157]; it is prohibited to knowingly wash the limbs more than three times [Saheeh Abee Daawud: 1/123].
It is recommended to say after finishing the ablution – without raising the head to the sky (or a finger): Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa Allaah wahda-hu laa shareeka lahu wa ash'anna muhammadan abdu-hu wa rasuulu-hu, allahumaj'lnee minat-tawwabeen waj'lanee minal-mutatahireen. [I bear the testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, He is One, He has no partner. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. O Allaah, make me among those who turn in repentance (to You) and make me among the pure ones.] – (Saheeh Jaami (5803, 6167), Saheeh Tar'gheeb (217)).
Or:
Sub'haanakaLlaahumma wa bihamdik ash'adu an laa ilaaha illa ant as'taghfiruka wa atuubu ilayk. [Glorified are You, O Allaah, praise unto you. I testify that there is none worthy of worship beside You, I ask of Your forgiveness and I turn in repentance to You.] - (Saheeh Jaami (6170)) As for making specific supplications in the course of the ablution, such as reciting Innaa anzalnaa-hu fee laylatil-qadr (till the end of the Chapter) after the completion of the ablution; it is a reprehensible innovation [Tanbeehul-ghaafil pp. 86-87].
Sprinkling a doubtful spot on the cloth with water, or the private region, to remove all doubts of whether the place was touched with water or not. [Al-Hakam bn Sufyaan Ath-Thaqafee (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah – SallaLlahu alahye wa sallam – once urinated then he performed ablution then he sprinkled water (over the cloth) on his private region {Saheeh Abee Daawud (154), Saheeh An-Nasaai (130) and Saheeh Ibn Maajah (374)}]
It is permissible to dry the body after performing the ablution; there is nothing against it [Tanbeehul-ghaafil pp. 90-91].
It is permissible to use someone else as an aid in performing the ablution (like if the person helps one pour water over one's hand) [Al-Bukhaaree: 179; Muslim: 277] so also it is permissible to return a person's greeting of Salaam or what is similar.
All the above points apply to both men and women.
Source: Tanbeehul-ghaafil ilaa sifatil-wudu'il-kaamil of Ash-Shaykh Abdul-Qaadir bn Muhammad Al-Jazaairee.
