How to wash the hands

(a) It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you wakes up, let him pour water over his hands three times before putting his hand into the vessel, for what does he know of how his hand spent the night?"
(b) In (another) narration from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) it is: "Let him pour water over his hand."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed the Fajr prayer, then went to an open courtyard, and we went along with him. He called for water, and a boy brought a vessel containing water. Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) took hold of the vessel with his right hand and poured water onto his left hand, then washed them both together; then he took hold of the vessel with his right hand and poured water onto his left hand, then washed them both together, and washed his palms three times before putting them into the vessel. At the end of it, it is stated that he (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever would like to see the ablution of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), this is his (peace and blessings be upon him) ablution."

Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) called for water and performed ablution. He poured water with his right hand onto his left hand, then washed them both up to the wrists. Then he rinsed his mouth and sniffed water into his nose three times, then he mentioned washing the limbs three times each in the ablution. Then he wiped his head and washed his feet. "I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performing ablution just as you have seen me performing ablution."
The Shaykh says: Washing the limbs in this way is sunnah or recommended, not obligatory. This is also the position of Ata, Ibn Sirin and the companions of Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you gets up from sleep, let him pour water over his hands before putting them into the vessel." Qays al-Ashja'i said to him: "When we come to this mihras (stone basin) of yours, what should we do with it?" Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I seek refuge in Allah from your evil."
Abu Ubayd says that al-Asma'i said: The mihras is a huge, elongated, hollowed-out stone like a cistern, from which people perform ablution; none of you is able to move it.

(a) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you wakes up from sleep, let him not put his hand into the vessel until he has washed it, for he does not know where his hand spent the night."
(b) Sulayman says that it was mentioned to Ibrahim that the companions of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What would Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) do in it? Sulayman said: When their hands were clean, they did not see any harm in it.
(c) Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) took as evidence the hadith of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had relieved himself, he did not perform ablution for eating.
(d) The Shaykh says that our companions took as evidence the hadith of Sayyiduna Rifa'ah bin Rafi' (may Allah be pleased with him), which is narrated marfu' from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it has been mentioned earlier.