(a) Ziyad (may Allah have mercy on him), the freed slave of Banu Makhzum, said: A man came to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about ablution, saying: Should I begin with the right or with the left? Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) made a derisive sound at him (in mockery of his question), then called for water and began with the left before the right.
(b) Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not mind if I begin with the left before the right.
(c) Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not mind, when I complete my ablution, with which limb I begin.
(d) It is possible that what is meant by this is the hadith of Hafs bin Ghiyath. And Allah knows best.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الطهارة / 406
(a) Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about a man who begins his ablution with the left before the right, and he granted a concession for it.
(b) Abdullah al-Hilali heard Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) say: If he wishes, he may begin the ablution from the left side.
(c) It is narrated from Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was asked about a man who began his ablution from the left side, and he said: There is no harm.
(d) Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: There is no harm in beginning with your feet before your hands.
Al-Daraqutni said: This is mursal and is not established, because Mujahid did not meet Abdullah bin Mas'ud.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الطهارة / 407