Optional aspects of ablution

'Sunnah' (optional) Acts of Ablution:
The following acts are not obligatory, yet, once done, are rewarded for
since they constitute the way the Prophet used to perform ablution:
Reciting 'Bismillah' (saying: 'Bismillahir-rahmaanir-raheem', which
means: 'In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Most
Compassionate).
Washing the hands, threetimes, up to the wrists.
Brushing the teeth with atooth-stick (Miswak).
Rinsing the mouth, thrice.
Sniffing water into the nostrils, thrice.
Combing the beard with the fingers (this is called Takhleel in Arabic).
Passing the fingers of both hands against each other, and also passing
them through the toes (the Takhleel of the fingers and toes).
Washing each limb, threetimes.
Wiping the whole head with wet hands once
Wiping the two ears (inside and outside).
Performing the Wudhoo' in the proper order (as stated above).
Washing each part, one after the other, without pause, to ensure that no
part dries up before the next step.
Humraan, the freed slave of 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan narrated that 'Uthmaan
once asked for a tumbler of water in order to perform ablution; when it
was brought to him, he poured water from it over his hands and washed
them thrice, and then put his right hand inthe water container and
rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then
blowing it out. Then, he washed his face thrice and then his forearms up
to the elbows thrice; then, he passed his wet hands over his head and
then washed each foot thrice. After that, 'Uthmaan said: "I saw the
Prophet performing ablution like this of mine, and he then said: " If
anyone performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two-Rak'ah
(units) prayer during which he does not think of anything else (not
related to the present prayer) then his past sins will be forgiven." "
Actions that require ablution as aprerequisite:
There are three actions that require ablution as aprerequisite in order
for them to be accepted Islamically. These are:
1- Any type of prayer (Salaah)
This involves only obligatory, voluntary, or funeral prayers. This is
based on Allaah's statement (which means):
"O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your
faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipeover your heads and wash
your feet to the ankles." [Quran 5:6]
Also, the Messenger of Allaah said,
"Allaah does not accept a prayer from a person who is not in a state of
purity. Nor does He accept charity from misappropriated booty." [Muslim]
2- Circumambulating the Ka'bah
Ibn 'Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said,
"Circumambulation is a type of prayer, but Allaahhas permitted speaking
during it. Whoever speaks during it should only speak good."
[At-Tirmithi and others]
3- Touching a copy of the Quran
Abu Bakr Ibn Muhammad related from his father on the authority ofhis
grandfather that the Prophet sent a letter to the people of Yemen, which
stated:
"No one is to touch the Quran except one who is purified."
[An-Nasaa'i and others]