The procedure of ablution (Wudhu) has been simply explained in the Quran. Surah Al-Maida’s verse 6 states:
“O you who believe! When you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles;”
Shia and Sunni scholars agree that four steps are obligatory in ablution, rest of the steps like washing hands; mouth and nose (thrice) are desirable. The obligatory part has been explained in the above stated verse. If we just go through this verse, we find that this verse contains three parts. In the first part the believers have been addressed that when they stand up for prayers, the second part states about the body parts that have to washed and the third part states about the parts which need anointment or rubbing. Let’s see the translation of the above verse (again):
“O you who believe! When you rise up to prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles;”
Transliteration of Hafidh Farman Ali
After addressing the believers, the body parts which are to be washed, have been mentioned after “FAGHSULU” and the parts which need ablution have been mentioned after “WAMSAHU”. This is an extremely clear verse and really easy to understand.
Source: shiapen.com
