Final answer:
The steps for performing ablution, known as wudu, in Islamic prayer are washing the hands, rinsing the mouth and nose, washing the face and arms, wetting the head, wiping the ears, and washing the feet in a specified order.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps of Performing Ablution in Islamic Prayer
The steps for performing ablution, also known as wudu, before the Islamic prayer include several sequential acts. Here are the correct, ordered steps:
Declare the intention of making wudu and begin by washing the hands up to the wrists three times, making sure that water reaches between the fingers.
Rinse the mouth and swill water in it thoroughly three times.
Sniff water into the nostrils and blow it out three times to cleanse the nose.
Wash the entire face three times from the right ear to the left ear and from the forehead to the chin.
Wash the right arm including the hand up to the elbow three times, followed by the left arm in the same manner.
Perform masah by wetting the hands and passing them lightly over the head.
Wipe the inside and outside of the ears with wet fingers.
Lastly, wash both feet up to the ankles starting with the right foot, making sure to clean between the toes.
It is important to perform these steps in the correct order and without undue interruption to ensure the ablution is valid for the Salat (ritual prayer). Ablution is one of the essential preparations for Salat, which is the second pillar of Islam after the Shahadah, the declaration of faith.