Lesson Thirteen -Elements That Are Obligatory (Fardh) In The Wudhu'

There are six elements that are obligatory in Wudhu':

1) Washing one's face, including Al-Madhmadhah and AI¬Istinshaq (these terms will be clarified in the explanation, if Allah wills)

2) Washing one's hands, elbows, and whatever is in between.

3) Wiping one's entire head, including one's ears.

4) Washing one's feet, including one's ankles.

5) Performing these elements in order.

6) Performing them at one time, without too long of a pause between one body part and another.

It is recommended to repeat the washing of one's face, hands, and feet three times; the same goes for the Madhmadhah and the AI-Istinshaq. However, it is obligatory to perform each of those elements only once. And based on the meanings of authentic Ahadith, one should wipe his head once only.




"Washing one's face, including AI-Madhmadhah and AI-Istin¬shaq": The limits of one's face: from where the hair begins to grow on one's head to below one's cheekbones on each side of the face, until they meet at the chin, and until the base of one's ears. Allah Almighty says:

When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub- (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 6)


In a Hadith, Humran describes the Wudhu' of 'Uthman (Radhi Allahu Anhu) who is describing the Wudhu' of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) 'Uthman (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "Then he washed his face three times."


We must perform Madhmadhah (washing out the mouth) and Istinshaq (snuffing water into the nose and blowing it out) based on two proofs:

1) everyone who described the Prophet's Wudhu' mentioned them, and

2) the nose and the mouth are parts of the face.

'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha), related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:



Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:




Based on what has been related from the Sunnah, the water is taken into the nose with the right hand, and blown out with the assistance of the left.

To follow the Sunnah, one should perform AI-Madhmadhah and AI¬Istinshaq with one handful of water; when one of the Prophet's Companions described his Wudhu', he said, "He then made Madhmadhah and Istinshaq." As long as one is not fasting, one should exaggerate in both, working the water inside one's mouth and inhaling water through one's nose to a high level. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:


(Recorded by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi via a narration from Luqit bin Saburah).

Washing one's hands, elbows, and whatever is in between: One should wash his hands until (and including) his elbows. Allah Almighty says:



In Humran's narration: "He then washed his right hand up to the elbow three times, and then the left in the same way." The elbow must be washed along with the hand, first because the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to wash his elbow as well, and second because the scholars say that "up to" here means ''with.''

Wiping one's entire head, including one's ears:

Allah Almighty says:



'Abdullah bin Zaid (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said when he described the Wudhu' of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) "Indeed, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) wiped his head with his hands, bringing them toward the front and taking them toward the back. He began with the front of his head, working his hands up until he reached the back of his head, and then he brought them back to their starting place." (Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.) It is enough to wipe one's head once. The ears take the same ruling for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:



Recorded by At-Tirmithi and Abu Dawud with a Sahih chain of narration.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would wipe both his head and ears when making Wudhu'.

It is not legislated, however, to use new water for one's ears; rather, one should use what remains after one wipes his head, The way to wipe one's ears is described in Ibn 'Umar's (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) Hadith, wherein he said, “Then he wiped his head, inserting his two index fingers into his ears, wiping with his thumbs the exterior of his ears." (Recorded by
Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i).

Washing one's feet, including one's ankles: Allah Almighty says:


Humran's Hadith: "Then he washed his right foot until the ankles three times, and then he did the same with his left." (Agreed upon).

One's ankles, the two bones that are protruding just above one's feet must be washed as well.


Performing these elements in order: This is because Allah Almighty mentioned the Wudhu' in order, and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would perform Wudhu' in that same order. When I say "in order," I mean that one must perform Wudhu' the way Allah Almighty and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) ordered us to perform it, without advancing certain body parts before their time, which, if done, nullifies the Wudhu'.

By washing one's elbows before his face, one invalidates his Wudhu'; similarly, by washing one's feet before wiping one's head, one invalidates his Wudhu', and so on. The verse clearly indicates the order of Wudhu', and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:




Performing them at one time, without too long of a pause: this is the sixth obligatory element of Wudhu', and what it means is this: while making Wudhu', one should not delay one body part so long that the previous body part has become dry. The body parts of Wudhu' must not only be performed in sequence, but also without too long of a pause between one part and the next.

Khalid bin Ma'dan related that when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saw a man praying, he noticed that an area about the size of a coin on the back of his foot was unwashed. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) ordered him to repeat his Wudhu'. (Recorded by Ahmad and Abu Dawud with a Sahih chain of narration. )

This Hadith clearly indicates that it is necessary to wash one part after another, without pausing too long; had it not been necessary, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would have ordered him to wash only that spot. Moreover, everyone who described the Prophet's Wudhu' men¬tioned that he would perform it continuously, without taking breaks in between body parts, and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) is the one who delivers that legislation to his nation.

Finally, it is obligatory to wash all of the body parts for ablution once; twice is better; and three times is best. Ibn Majah recorded that on one occasion, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) made ablution, washing each body part once, and he then said:


He then made ablution, washing each body part twice, and he then said:



The proof for washing each body part three times is found in the Hadith related by 'Uthman (Radhi Allahu Anhu) which preceded as well as others.