Wudu takes about a minute. The dua after it takes about ten seconds. For those ten seconds the Prophet ﷺ promised something that sounds too big for such a small act: the eight gates of Paradise opened, and the one who said it free to enter through whichever gate they wish. The narration is in Sahih Muslim, and it is one of the easiest deeds in the whole religion to add to your day, because you already do the thing that comes before it five times.
The dua after wudu
Arabic
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
Meaning
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
That is the whole thing. The shahadah, said with a wet face and clean hands.
Two more lines you can add
The Prophet ﷺ also taught two short additions that are narrated alongside it. You can say one, both, or neither. The shahadah alone carries the promise.
Allahummaj-‘alni minat-tawwabina waj-‘alni minal-mutatahhirin.
O Allah, make me of those who return to You often in repentance, and make me of those who remain clean and pure. (Tirmidhi)
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.
How perfect You are, O Allah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance. (An-Nasa’i)
Why this one is worth learning first
If you are picking one dua to add to your routine this month, make it this one. It is short enough for a child to learn in a week. It comes attached to something you already do five times a day, so there is a built-in reminder. The reward named for it is enormous. Most of us are not short on knowing we should make more dua. We are short on moments where dua naturally fits. Wudu is one of those moments, and it comes around again in a few hours.
Can you say it in English?
Learn the Arabic. The words of the shahadah are the words of the shahadah. Until the Arabic is comfortable, saying the meaning in English while you learn is better than saying nothing. The point is to be the person who remembers Allah when they finish washing, and you can start being that person today.
Making it stick
Say it out loud for the first few weeks. Whispered duas are easy to skip. Say it before you reach for the towel, because once your hands are dry you are already thinking about the prayer. If you have children, say it loud enough for them to hear. They will have it memorised before you notice, and you will have taught it without a single lesson.
For families, this dua is card five in our 30 Everyday Duas for Kids set, with the Arabic, transliteration and meaning on one card you can tape above the bathroom sink.
