8 Instructions on Finger Interlacing (Khilāl) in Wudu According to Authentic Hadiths
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 377
(A Detailed Explanation in Light of the Sunnah)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When you perform wudu, do it completely and perform khilāl of the fingers."
(Tirmidhī 1/14, Abū Dāwūd 1/29, Ibn Mājah 1/75, Ḥadīth 448)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you perform wudu, do khilāl of the fingers of your hands and feet."
(Tirmidhī 1/41, Ibn Mājah 1/75)
He said:
"I saw the Prophet ﷺ interlacing his toes using his little finger."
(Tirmidhī 1/15, Ḥadīth 40; Ibn Mājah Ḥadīth 446)
Via ʿAlāʾ ibn Kathīr, Makḥūl, and Wāthilah, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever does not perform khilāl of the fingers with water, Allah will interlace them with fire on the Day of Judgment."
(Naṣb al-Rāyah 1/26–27)
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) passed by a group performing wudu and said:
"Do khilāl!"
"A person must ensure water reaches between his fingers, otherwise fire will."
"Perform khilāl of your fingers in wudu before they are interlaced with fire."
✔ Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله (Nayl al-Awṭār 1/191):
“These narrations establish the legislation of khilāl for the fingers of hands and feet. When taken together, they are strong enough to prove obligation, especially the ḥadīth of Laqīṭ ibn Ṣabrah.”
✔ Sabīl al-Salām (1/48):
“Laqīṭ’s ḥadīth is a proof for the obligation of khilāl.”
✔ Imām Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله (Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī 1/49):
He also favored the view of obligation in performing khilāl.
① Explicit wording in hadiths supports obligation.
② Established through the Prophet’s ﷺ speech and action.
③ No condition is laid about whether water naturally reaches between fingers.
④ No distinction is made between fingers of hands and feet.
⑤ Therefore, limiting the ruling to toes only or requiring water to not reach on its own is baseless.
① Use the little finger of the left hand.
② Start from the smallest toe.
③ Although hadiths do not explicitly mention the left hand, scholars infer it because:
◈ Khilāl is a form of removing impurity,
◈ And removing impurity is established with the left hand, as ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ would use his left hand for cleaning filth and relieving himself."
(This hadith is authentic)
Can be interlaced in any manner—no specific method or restriction is mentioned in the Sunnah.
① The ruling on khilāl of the fingers indicates obligation.
② It is emphasized through the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
③ Severe warnings have been reported for abandoning it.
④ Performing it according to the Sunnah is superior and rewardable.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 377
❖ Ruling and Method of Khilāl
(A Detailed Explanation in Light of the Sunnah)
✦ Hadith-Based Ruling on Khilāl
➊ Ḥadīth of Laqīṭ ibn Ṣabrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When you perform wudu, do it completely and perform khilāl of the fingers."
(Tirmidhī 1/14, Abū Dāwūd 1/29, Ibn Mājah 1/75, Ḥadīth 448)
➋ Ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you perform wudu, do khilāl of the fingers of your hands and feet."
(Tirmidhī 1/41, Ibn Mājah 1/75)
➌ Ḥadīth of Mastūr ibn Shaddād (رضي الله عنه):
He said:
"I saw the Prophet ﷺ interlacing his toes using his little finger."
(Tirmidhī 1/15, Ḥadīth 40; Ibn Mājah Ḥadīth 446)
✿ Severe Warning for Neglecting Khilāl
➍ Report of Ṭabarānī:
Via ʿAlāʾ ibn Kathīr, Makḥūl, and Wāthilah, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever does not perform khilāl of the fingers with water, Allah will interlace them with fire on the Day of Judgment."
(Naṣb al-Rāyah 1/26–27)
➎ Report of Muṣʿab ibn Saʿd (Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/11):
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه) passed by a group performing wudu and said:
"Do khilāl!"
➏ Report of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
"A person must ensure water reaches between his fingers, otherwise fire will."
➐ Report of Ḥudhayfah (رضي الله عنه):
"Perform khilāl of your fingers in wudu before they are interlaced with fire."
✦ Scholarly Statements
✔ Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله (Nayl al-Awṭār 1/191):
“These narrations establish the legislation of khilāl for the fingers of hands and feet. When taken together, they are strong enough to prove obligation, especially the ḥadīth of Laqīṭ ibn Ṣabrah.”
✔ Sabīl al-Salām (1/48):
“Laqīṭ’s ḥadīth is a proof for the obligation of khilāl.”
✔ Imām Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله (Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī 1/49):
He also favored the view of obligation in performing khilāl.
✿ Evidences for Obligation of Khilāl
① Explicit wording in hadiths supports obligation.
② Established through the Prophet’s ﷺ speech and action.
③ No condition is laid about whether water naturally reaches between fingers.
④ No distinction is made between fingers of hands and feet.
⑤ Therefore, limiting the ruling to toes only or requiring water to not reach on its own is baseless.
✦ Method of Performing Khilāl
➤ For Toes:
① Use the little finger of the left hand.
② Start from the smallest toe.
③ Although hadiths do not explicitly mention the left hand, scholars infer it because:
◈ Khilāl is a form of removing impurity,
◈ And removing impurity is established with the left hand, as ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ would use his left hand for cleaning filth and relieving himself."
(This hadith is authentic)
➤ For Fingers of the Hands:
Can be interlaced in any manner—no specific method or restriction is mentioned in the Sunnah.
❖ Summary of Key Points:
① The ruling on khilāl of the fingers indicates obligation.
② It is emphasized through the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
③ Severe warnings have been reported for abandoning it.
④ Performing it according to the Sunnah is superior and rewardable.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
