8 Hadith-Based Proofs Against Washing Wudu Limbs More Than Thrice

Prohibition of Washing Wudu Limbs More Than Three Times: 8 Evidences from Authentic Hadiths
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 371

❖ A Research-Based Review:​

Ruling on Washing Wudu Limbs More Than Three Times

✦ Background of the Hadith:​

The author of al-Hidāyah (Vol. 1, p. 91) mentioned a narration where the Prophet ﷺ performed wudu in three different ways:


① He washed the limbs once and said:
"This is my wudu, without which Allah does not accept prayer."


② He washed twice and said:
"This is the wudu of the one whose reward Allah will double."


③ He washed three times and said:
"This is my wudu and the wudu of the Prophets before me. Whoever does more or less than this has exceeded bounds and committed injustice."

✦ The Phrase: "Whoever does less" — A Problematic Addition​

The clause "whoever does less" appears inconsistent with authentic hadiths, which confirm:


✔ The Prophet ﷺ at times performed wudu once,
✔ At other times twice,
✔ And also three times — all are valid.

✦ Authentic Hadiths on Modes of Wudu​

① Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه):
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed wudu by washing each limb once."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 27)


② ʿAbdullāh ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنه):
"The Prophet ﷺ washed the limbs twice during wudu."
(Bukhārī)


③ ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (رضي الله عنه):
He performed wudu at Maqām al-Maqāʿid and said:
"Shall I not show you the wudu of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?"
Then he washed the limbs three times.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)


④ Tirmidhī (1/16):
Reported that the Prophet ﷺ washed his face three times, hands twice, performed masḥ of the head, and feet twice.
Also reported by Abū Dāwūd (1/25), Ḥadīth 118.


Note: Washing the feet twice is classified as shādh (unusual) because major collections like Bukhārī, Muslim, and Abū Dāwūd omit this specification.

✦ Reconciliation Between the Hadiths​

The collected narrations confirm that:


◈ Washing once is permissible
◈ Washing twice is also permissible
◈ Washing thrice is Sunnah and best
◈ Washing more than three times is prohibited

✿ Hadiths Supporting the Prohibition of Excess​

⑤ Ibn Mājah (Ḥadīth 422) — Under the chapter:
“The Dislike of Excess in Wudu”
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه) narrated:


A Bedouin asked about wudu, and the Prophet ﷺ demonstrated by washing three times, then said:
“Whoever does more than this has done evil, transgressed, and committed injustice.”
✔ This ḥadīth is authentic.


⑥ Abū Dāwūd (Ḥadīth 135) records a longer narration with the words:
“Wudu is done like this. Whoever does more or less has done evil and committed injustice.”


However, Shaykh al-Albānī graded these specific words as shādh (irregular) in Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd.


✔ Imām al-Shawkānī (in Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 1, p. 216) also noted this and some even declared them munkar.

✦ Exceeding the Limit: Bidʿah or Waswasah?​

✔ It is proven that washing limbs more than three times is ḥarām, even if done out of supposed "caution".


✔ Such an act is either a blameworthy innovation (bidʿah) or a sign of satanic whisperings (waswasah).

✦ Statements from the Scholars​

⑦ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh:
"Only a person afflicted with waswasah washes more than three times."


⑧ ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak:
"One who does more than three in wudu is in danger of sin."


⑨ Imām al-Shawkānī:
"There is no disagreement that exceeding three times is disliked (makrūh)."

✦ Critique of the al-Hidāyah Author​

The author of al-Hidāyah opined that more than three washings are allowed out of caution, but this contradicts the hadith.


An authentic hadith warns:
"Soon there will come a people in my ummah who will go to extremes in supplication and purification."
(Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ Vol. 1, p. 47)


This is a serious warning against those who go beyond the limits in acts of worship.

❖ Conclusion​

✔ A Muslim should reflect upon the true and authentic teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ He should not fall into excess, nor imitate those who have been condemned for going beyond limits.


ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِی وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ