Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “When one of you awakes from sleep he must not dip his hand in the vessel till he has washed it three times, for he does not know where his hand was during the night.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you awakes from sleep and performs ablution he must clear his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.”(Bukhari and Muslim) ‘Abdallah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim, on being asked how God’s messenger used to perform ablution, called for ablution water and poured it over his hands, washing each hand twice. He then rinsed his mouth and cleared his nose with water three times. He then washed his face three times, then washed each arm twice up to the elbows, then wiped his head both front and back with his hands, beginning with the front of the head and moving them to the nape of the neck, then bringing them back to the place from which he began. He then washed his feet. Malik and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud has something similar. The author of the Jami‘ mentioned it. In the version of Bukhari and Muslim ‘Abdallah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim was asked to perform ablution for them as God's messenger had done, so he called for a vessel and, pouring water from it on his hands, he washed them three times, then inserted his hand and brought it out, rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from the palm of one hand, doing that three times. He then inserted his hand and brought it out and washed his face three times, then inserted his hand and brought it out and washed each arm up to the elbows twice, then inserted his hand and brought it out and wiped his head both front and back with his hands. He then washed his feet up to the ankles and said, “This is how God’s messenger performed ablution.” A version says that he moved them to the front and the back beginning with the front of his head, then moving them to the nape of his neck, then bringing them back till he reached the place from which he had begun, after which he washed his feet. Another version says that he rinsed his mouth, snuffed up water and cleared his nose three times with three handfuls of water. Another version says that he rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from one palm, doing that three times. In a version by Bukhari he wiped his head front and back with both hands once, then washed his feet up to the ankles. In another by him he rinsed his mouth and cleared his nose with water three times from one handful.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger performed each detail of his ablution once, doing no more than that. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that the Prophet performed each detail of his ablution twice. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Uthman performed ablution in places where people sat and said, “Shall I not show you how God’s messenger performed ablution?” He then performed each detail thrice. Muslim transmitted it.

We returned from Mecca to Medina with God’s messenger, and when we came to some water on the way some of the people hurriedly performed ablution at the time of the afternoon prayer; but they were too hasty, and when we reached them their heels were dry, no water having touched them. God’s messenger therefore said, “Woe to the heels because of hell! Complete the ablution.” Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba said that the Prophet performed ablution, wiping his forelock and over his turban and shoes. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that the Prophet liked to begin with the right as much as possible in all his affairs, in his purification, combing his hair, and putting on his sandals. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you put on your clothes and when you perform ablution begin with the right side.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sa'id b. Zaid reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who does not mention God’s name while performing ablution is not credited with having performed it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it from Abu Huraira, and Darimi from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri from his father, and they added at the beginning,“He who has not performed ablution is not credited with observing prayer”.

Laqit b. Sabira said that he asked God's messenger to tell him about ablution and he replied, “Perform ablution completely, let the water run between the fingers and toes,* and snuff up water freely unless you are fasting!’*In the text only asabi’ is used, but this word is used for either fingers or toes, and on the analogy of the following traditions I have translated it as above. There it says “the asabi’ of your hands and your feet". Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it up to “between the fingers and toes”.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you perform ablution let the water run between your fingers and your toes.”Tirmidhi transmitted it and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar. Tirmidhi said that this is a gharib tradition.

Al-Mustaurid b. Shaddad said that he saw God’s messenger rubbing his toes with his little finger when he performed ablution. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas said that when God’s messenger performed ablution he took a handful of water, and putting it under his chin, made it go through his beard, saying, “Thus did my Lord command me.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Uthman said that the Prophet used to make the water go through his beard. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

I saw ‘Ali perform ablution. He washed the palms of his hands till he cleaned them, then rinsed his mouth three times, snuffed up water three times, washed his face three times and his forearms three times, wiped his head once, then washed his feet up to the ankles, after which he stood up and, taking the remainder of his ablution water, he drank it standing. Then he said, “I wanted to show you how God’s messenger performed ablution.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

We were sitting looking at ‘Ali when he performed ablution. He inserted his right hand, filled his mouth, rinsed it, snuffed up water and ejected the mucus with the left hand, doing this three times, then said, "If anyone is pleased to look at God's messenger’s method of performing ablution, this is how he did it.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that he saw God’s messenger rinse his mouth and snuff up water from one hand, doing that three times. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet wiped his head and also the inside of his ears with his forefingers and the outside with his thumbs.Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ar-Rubaiyi‘ daughter of Mu'awwidh said that she saw the Prophet performing ablution, saying that he wiped his head front and back, his temples and his ears once. A version says that he performed ablution and inserted his two fingers in his ear-holes. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted the first version, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah the second.