Washing the Limbs of Wudu More Than Three Times – A Research Review
Background and Explanation of the Hadith
The author of al-Hidayah mentions in his book al-Hidayah (Volume 1, Page 91) a hadith that describes performing wudu in three different ways:
The Prophet ﷺ washed the limbs of wudu once each and said:
“This is my wudu, without which Allah does not accept the prayer.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ performed wudu twice each and said:
“This is the wudu of the one whose reward Allah will double.”
Then he performed wudu three times each and said:
“This is my wudu and the wudu of the prophets before me. Whoever does more than this or less than this has transgressed and committed injustice.”
The Problem with the Words “Whoever Does Less”
What deserves attention in this narration is that the phrase “whoever does less” appears to contradict the authentic hadiths, because the authentic hadiths explicitly mention that the Prophet ﷺ performed wudu once and twice.
The Manner of Wudu in Light of Various Hadiths:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed wudu once each.”
From Abdullah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The Prophet ﷺ performed wudu twice each.”
The narration of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him):
“He performed wudu at Maqam Maqa’id and said: Shall I not show you the wudu of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?”
“Then he performed wudu three times each.”
In the narration of Tirmidhi
:
“Abdullah ibn Zayd narrates that the Prophet ﷺ washed his face three times, washed his hands twice, wiped his head, and washed his feet twice.”
Abu Dawud
also narrated this report.
However, the washing of the feet twice has been deemed shadh (anomalous), because in Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawud it is mentioned without the “twice.”
How Can These Hadiths Be Reconciled?
These hadiths establish the permissibility of performing wudu once, twice, and three times. However, the aforementioned narration containing “whoever does more or less, has transgressed and committed injustice” apparently conflicts with them. The reconciliation is as follows:
◈ Performing it once is permissible.
◈ Performing it twice is also permissible.
◈ Performing it three times is Sunnah and preferable.
◈ Performing it more than three times is prohibited.
Clarification in Light of Ibn Majah and Other Books
In the chapter of Ibn Majah
titled “Chapter on Moderation in Wudu and the Disliking of Exceeding Limits,” it is mentioned:
“Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked about wudu, so he showed him by performing wudu three times each, then said: ‘Whoever does more than this has done wrong, or he said: has exceeded the limit and committed injustice.'”
This hadith is sahih.
In Abu Dawud
there is a lengthy narration containing these words:
“Wudu is performed in this manner; whoever does less or more than this has done wrong and committed injustice, or has committed injustice and done wrong.”
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) in “Sahih Abi Dawud” deemed these words shadh.
Allama al-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) in “Nayl al-Awtar”
pointed to the shudhudh of these words, and some have also called it munkar.
Washing More Than Three Times – Innovation or Waswasa?
It is established that washing the limbs of wudu more than three times is haram, even if the intention is merely caution, because such caution is counted as innovation and waswasa.
Statements of Imams and Jurists:
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh (may Allah have mercy on him):
“Only a person afflicted with waswasa can wash more than three times.”
Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him):
“The one who washes more than three times in wudu is at risk of being sinful.”
Imam al-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him):
“There is no disagreement that more than three times is disliked.”
The View of the Author of al-Hidayah and Criticism of It
The author of al-Hidayah said that washing more than three times as a precaution is permissible, but this statement is contrary to the hadith. Because:
A sahih marfu’ hadith says:
“Soon there will be a people among my ummah who will exceed the limits in supplication and purification.”
This hadith is a strong warning for those who exceed limits in acts of worship.
Conclusion
The Muslim should take lesson from this true saying of the Prophet ﷺ and not be among those who have been condemned.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
