5Prayers

The Sunnah (recommended) elements of wuḍū` (ablution):

Saying “Bismillah” (in the Name of Allāh) at the beginning. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said “Wuḍū is not complete without mentioning Allāh’s Name.” Sheikh Al Albānī said that this ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) [Irwā al Ghalīl 1/122].
Brushing one’s teeth with the miswak. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said “Had it not been too much of a burden for my Ummah, I would have ordered them to brush their teeth with miswak every time they make wuḍū`”. Reported by Al Bukhārī.
Washing the hands three times at the beginning if wuḍū. This is because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) did so: he used to wash his hands three times, as is mentioned in the description of his wuḍū [Kitāb Al Fiqh Al Muyassar (Simplified Book of Islamic Jurisprudence), p. 31].
Rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose vigorously, as the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) did: “Then he rinsed his mouth and drew water into his nose and blew it out of his nose.” He also said (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) “Sniff vigourously unless you are fasting”. Sheikh Al Albānī said that the Ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) [Ṣaḥīḥ Al Nasā’ī, number 85].
Using one’s hands to rub water over the parts to be washed and running one’s fingers through the beard if it is thick so that the water can get into it: This (rubbing) is because he (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) “used to rub the water over his arms.” [Reported Imam Aḥmad Bin Ḥanbal in Al Musnad (39,4). He also used to put water on the area under his mouth and comb it through his beard using his fingers [Al Irwā` no. 92].
Washing one’s right hand and arm before the left and one’s right foot before the left as he (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) did because he “used to like to start with the right side when putting his footwear on, combing his hair, washing himself and in everything that he did” [Reported by Bukhārī (no. 168) and Muslim (no. 226)].
Washing one’s face, hands and arms, and feet three times. What is wājib (compulsory) is to wash these parts of the body once, but it is mustaḥabb (preferable but not compulsory) to do it three times. This is because that is what the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) did, as it has been established that “He performed wuḍū` (ablution) by washing once, twice and three times” [Reported by Bukhārī and Muslim].
Performing the dhikr (remembrance of Allāh) that has been (authentically) reported, as the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “Any of you who performs wuḍū (ablution) correctly then says, “I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allāh alone with no partners and I bear witness the Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger”, will have the eight doors to Paradise opened to him and he may enter by whichever one he wishes” [Sheikh Al Albānī said that this Ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) in Al Irwā no. 96]