What are the obligatory acts (fard) of wudu?

According to the Hanafi school there are four obligatory acts of wudu:

• Washing the face once

• Washing the arms up to and including the elbows

• Wiping (masah) a quarter of the head

• Washing the feet up to and including the ankles

If any one of these four is left out, the wudu is not complete.

Some of its sunnahs

• Making the intention and beginning with the basmala

• Washing the hands up to the wrists

• Rinsing the mouth and the nose

• Washing the limbs in order and without long pauses

• Washing each limb three times

Leaving out a sunnah does not invalidate the wudu, but it does reduce its reward.