Commentary on the Hadith of Wiping the Head and Perfecting Wudoo

Praise be to Allah,

 

Al-Bukhaaree says CHAPTER. To pass wet hands over the whole head during ablution, as is referred to by the Statement of Allaah:

 

“…Rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads…” [Soorah Al – Al-Ma’idah’ 5:6]

 

And Ibn al-Musayyab said, „This order is both for men and women. ‟ And Maalik was asked, ‘Is the passing of a wet hand over a part of the head sufficient?’ He took his the verdict from the narration of Abdullah ibn Zaid which follows.

 

Narrated Yahyaa Al-Mazeenee: A person asked ‘Abdullaah ibn Zaid who was the grandfather of ‘Amr ibn Yahya: “Can you show me how the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) used to perform ablution?” ‘Abdullaah ibn Zaid replied in the affirmative and asked for water and:

He poured it on his hands and washed them twice,

Then he rinsed his mouth thrice and washed his nose with water thrice by putting water in it and blowing it out.

He washed his face thrice

And after that, he washed his forearms up the elbows twice

And then passed his wet hands over his head from its front to its back and vice versa (beginning from the front and taking them to the back of his head up to the nape of the neck and then brought them to the front again from where he had started). And then washed his feet (up to the ankles)[i].

 

Important Points Derived from the Hadeeth:

 

The main points of this hadeeth are already discussed here.

The additional benefits from this hadith are:

1. It is clearly mentioned in this hadeeth of Abdullaah ibn Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him) that the rinsing of the mouth (al-mad-madah), as well as the rinsing of the nose (al-istin-shaaq), was three times – from three handfuls of water [rinsing both mouth and nose together, with each handful of water].

 

2. In the previous hadeeth of ‘Uthman ibn Affaan (May Allah be pleased with him), it was mentioned that the washing of the hands was three times and this hadeeth mentions the washing of the hands only two times.

 

3. The words: “Again he put his hand in the water and washed his face three times”, indicates the use of one hand for washing the face. Imam an-Nawawee – after mentioning various narrations’ – says: “These words indicate that [the use of one hand for washing the face, as well as the use of two hands] is Sunnah. However, the well-known practice which has been affirmed by the majority of scholars is that it is commendable to take water with both hands for washing the face since this manner is easier and more thorough.” [Note: The use of both hands for washing the face has been reported in a narration of al-Bukhaaree from Abdullah ibn Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him), a narration of al-Bukhaaree from Abdullah ibn Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him), and narration of Abu Daawood and al-Baihaqee from Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)].

 

4. He said in the previous hadeeth: “thumma masaha bi-ra‟si-hi”, and this expression [bi-ra‟si-hi] might possibly be explained as meaning: ‘then he wiped part of the head‟, as it was interpreted by some in the verse: „wa‟msahu bi-ru‟oosi-kum‟- and wipe over [part of] your heads. However, the wiping over the whole head is mentioned clearly in this hadeeth – unlike the previous one. Additionally, the manner of wiping the head is explained in detail in this hadeeth. There is a General Rule: Some text of the Islamic Law explains and clarifies other text, and here the wording in this narration indicates the obligation of wiping over the whole of the head.

To know in detail on wiping part or full head, click here

 

5. Both hadeeth mentions that he entered one hand [the right hand] (in the water) at the time of rinsing the mouth and nose. In this hadeeth, it is mentioned that he entered both hands at the time of washing the hands [up to the elbows] and that he wiped his head with both hands, bringing them from the front to the back, and then from the back to the front one time. Imaam Aboo Daawood said: “All the correct ahadith of „Uthmaan (performing Wudoo‟) indicate that wiping the head is only once, for they mention that (during) the Wudoo; (he washed) three times, and they said: “…and wiped his head…” without mentioning how many times, as they did with the others acts.”[ii] Ibn al-Mundhir said: “That which is established from the Prophet (PBUH) concerning wiping (al-Mash) is one time.”

 

6. It is also understood from this hadeeth that it is permissible to wash different parts of the body (in ablution) a different number of times. Also, that washing three times is the most complete manner, though washing once or twice is also acceptable, as has been confirmed in the authentic hadeeth.

 

7. The scholars differed about where the wiping over the head should begin from. Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid and as-San’aanee hold that it is from the front to the back. Others understood, from the words fa-aqbala bi-hima wa adbara that the wiping is from the back to the front, then returning the two hands to the nape (the point where the head meets the neck). [However, the first opinion is clearly indicated in the narration which states: He began bi-muqaddam ra‟si-hi (the front of his head) until the two hands reached qafaa-hu (the nape of the neck), then returning them to the place where he began.]

 

Wiping necks in wudoo

 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

 

“There is no saheeh report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which says that he wiped his neck during wudoo’, rather no such thing has been narrated from him in any Saheeh hadeeth. Rather the saheeh ahaadeeth which describes the wudoo’ of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) do not mention that he wiped his neck. Hence the majority of scholars, such as Maalik, al-Shaafa’i, and Ahmed did not regard that as mustahabb. Those who say that it is mustahabb rely on a report narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) or a da’eef (weak) hadeeth which says that he wiped his head until he reached the back of his head. Such reports cannot be relied on, and it does not contradict what is indicated by the sound ahaadeeth. Whoever does not wipe his neck, his wudoo’ is valid according to scholarly consensus[iii]. End quote.

 

Al-Nawawi mentioned a difference of opinion among the companions of al-Shaafa’i (may Allah have mercy on him) concerning wiping the neck in wudoo’. Then he said: This is a summary of what they said, and they had four views on this matter, one of which is that it is Sunnah to wipe it with new water. The second is that it is mustahabb and cannot be said to be Sunnah. The third is that it is mustahabb to use the water left from wiping the head and ears. The fourth is that it is neither Sunnah nor mustahabb. The fourth view is the one that is correct. Hence al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) did not mention it, and neither did our earlier companions. It was not mentioned by most of the scholars. There is no proof of that from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

 

It is proven in Saheeh Muslim and elsewhere that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation is a going astray.”

 

In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into our religion that is not part of it, will have it rejected.:” According to a version narrated by Muslim: “Whoever does any action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it rejected”.

 

Regarding the hadeeth that is narrated from Talhah ibn Musarraf, from his father, from his grandfather, which says that he saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wiping his head until he reached the back of his head and the first part of the neck, it is a hadeeth which is da’eef (weak) according to scholarly consensus.

 

Regarding the words of al-Ghazali: Wiping the neck is Sunnah because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Wiping the neck is a protection from the yoke (or chains – al-ghull)”, this is a mistake because these are not the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)[iv]. End quote.

 

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

 

There is no Saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about wiping the neck at all.[v] End quote.

 

8. observance of the sequence in the Wudoo so that the latter is not put before that which precedes it.

 

9. The aspiration of the righteous predecessors for knowing the sunnah of the prophet (PBUH) so that they could follow him in it.

 

 

Copied from Sources:

Arousing the Intellects with the Explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam. The Book Of At-Taharaah by Allama Sheikh Salih Ibn Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him). page 33

Tayseer al-Allaam Sharh Umdatul-Ahkaam by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur – Rahmaan Aal Bassaam. Page 27

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/70120/it-is-not-prescribed-to-wipe-the-neck-during-wudoo

http://islamhelpline.net/answer/8194/wipe-neck-during-wudu

 

 

 

[i] Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadeeth Number 185, p. 159-160; Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book

2, Hadeeth Number 557, p. 366-367; Sunan ibn Maajah, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 434, p. 328-

329, Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr ‘Alee Za’i; Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume 1, Book

1, Hadeeth Number 118, p. 88-89, Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr ‘Alee Za’i

[ii] Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 108, p. 82

[iii] Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 21/127.

[iv] al-Majmoo’ (1/489)

[v] Zaad al-Ma’aad (1/195):