An explanation of the actions in Wudhu

1. Washing
   
   1. In Wudhu, the person must first start by washing his face from the point where the hair grows, until the bottom of the chin, from top to bottom. To ensure that one has washed that which is Wajib, one must wash a bit extra of the surroundings of the face.
   2. After washing the face, the right arm must be washed, followed by the left arm, from the elbow up to the finger tips.
   3. To ensure that one has washed the complete arm, one must also wash a bit above the elbow.
   4. If someone washes his hands up to the wrist before he washes his face, then when he starts to perform the Wudhu, he must wash from the elbow to the tip of the fingers, and if he washes only up to the wrist, then his Wudhu will become void.
       
2. Wiping
   
   1. The place for wiping is one quarter of the frontal part of the head above the forehead on the top of the head.
   2. The wiping of the head must be in such a way that if someone sees it being done, it would be said that the wiping is being performed.
   3. According to Ihtiyat Mustahab (recommended precaution), the wiping should be the width of three closed fingers, and the length of one finger.
   4. It is not necessary that the wiping be done on the scalp, rather it is correct even if it is done on the hair, unless the hair on the head is so long that when it is combed, it falls on the face. In this event, the skin on the head or the roots of the hair must be wiped.
   5. After wiping the head, one must wipe the top of the foot from any of the toes to the joint of the foot with the moisture that is left on one’s hand. According to the Ihtiyat Wajib (obligatory precaution), one must wipe up to the joint – meaning that point where the foot bends as well.
   6. While performing the wiping on the head or feet, the hand itself must be drawn. Therefore, if the hand is kept stationary and the head or feet are moved, then the Wudhu will become void, but if the head or feet move slightly while the hand is being drawn for the wiping, then it is not a problem.
   7. If there remains no moisture on the hand to perform the wiping, one is not allowed to get water from another source to make it wet; rather, one must make the hand wet from another part of the body that Wudhu was performed on. For example one can take some of the moisture that is on the face, and perform the wiping with that.
   8. The moisture on the hand must be a sufficient amount to leave an effect on the head or feet.
   9. The place of wiping – the head or the feet – must be dry. Therefore, if the place of wiping is wet, it must be dried (before being wiped); but if the wetness is very little such that it does not affect the moisture on the hand, then it is not a problem.
   10. There must not be any barrier like a Hijab or hat, or socks or shoes between the hand and the head, no matter how thin they be, even if the water still manages to reach the skin (except if one is helpless).
   11. The place of wiping must be Tahir, so if there is a Najasat present, and one is not able to remove it, then one must perform Tayammum.