When Muslims pray, they do so with the intent of focusing only on Allah. A very important part of prayer is cleanliness — one must be clean, both of spirit and of body, when they approach the prayer. Cleaning with the purpose of prayer is known as making Wud’u.
There is a definite way to do this. Only a small bowl of water and a small towel are required, as to avoid waste of any kind. To begin, pay homage to Allah before you cleanse. “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.”
Wash your hands three times, making certain to wash the backs of your hands and your thumbs as well. Then bring a handful of water to your mouth and wash it thoroughly, again, three times.
Using your right hand to bring up a handful of water, sniff it into your nose to cleanse it. Expel it with your left hand. Do this three times to clear the sinuses. This part does not feel all that natural until you’ve done it for a while, so it might take some practice!
Wash your entire face three times. Then, starting with the right, wash your arms up to the elbows on each side. Do this three times as well.
Your hands will be wet. Slide them over your head, from front to back, and then from back to front. Using your wet fingers, wipe around the inside and the outside of your ears.
Now turn your attention to your feet. Wash them, up to the ankles, three times each. That’s the final step before drying off with the small towel you prepared at the beginning.
When you are done, make an appeal to Allah, showing that your care in bathing was for Him alone. “I witness that none shall be worshipped except Allah, and that Mohammed is His slave and His messenger.”