❖ 8 Rulings Regarding Wiping Over the Head in Light of Authentic Hadiths ❖
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Volume 1, Page 370
What is the ruling on wiping the head three times during ablution (Wudhu) in light of the purified Sunnah?
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In all authentic narrations that describe the method of ablution of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, it is consistently established that he wiped his head only once.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله wrote in Zad al-Ma‘ad (1/87):
“The correct view is that wiping the head is not repeated. Even when the other limbs were washed multiple times, the head was wiped only once. This is explicitly reported from him ﷺ, and there is nothing to the contrary that is authentically proven.”
Some narrations mention wiping the head three times, but these are either non-explicit or weak.
Example: The statement of a companion, “He performed ablution three times,” or “He wiped his head twice,” – such reports are non-explicit.
One narration is attributed to ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, in which the Prophet ﷺ reportedly said:
“Whoever performed ablution and washed his hands three times, then wiped his head three times...”
However, this narration is transmitted through Baylmani and his father, both of whom are weak narrators.
A narration recorded by Abu Dawud mentions:
“He wiped his head three times.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 231)
But Imam Abu Dawud himself comments:
“All the authentic narrations from ʿUthman indicate that the head was wiped only once.”
The hadith of ʿUthman رضي الله عنه is transmitted through three chains, two of which are found in Abu Dawud and are of Hasan (good) status.
Refer to Hadith no. 107.
Narrated by Humran: He saw ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan رضي الله عنه performing ablution, and it is mentioned therein that he wiped his head three times.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar states in Fath al-Bari:
Abu Dawud narrated this report through two chains.
Ibn Khuzaymah and others have graded this narration as authentic.
“The addition of a trustworthy narrator is accepted.”
In Talkhīs al-Habīr (1/85), it is mentioned:
Ibn al-Jawzi, in Kashf al-Mushkil, inclined towards affirming the repetition (of wiping).
◈ Statement of the Author:
“This is the truth, because even though one-time reports are more in number, they do not contradict the three-time reports. The issue pertains to Sunnah – and Sunnah may at times be performed and at other times be left out.”
Al-Sanʿani also adopted this view in Subul al-Salam (1/44), which is also quoted in Tamam al-Minnah (p. 91).
Ibn Abi Shaybah رحمه الله has reported from a group of Tabiʿin who used to wipe three times:
◈ Ibrahim al-Taymi
◈ Saʿid ibn Jubayr
◈ ʿAṭā’
◈ Zadhan
◈ Maytharah رحمهم الله
A similar narration is reported from Anas رضي الله عنه via Abu al-ʿAla’.
In Sunan al-Daraqutni (1/89):
Muhammad ibn Mahmood al-Wasiti → Shuʿayb ibn Ayyub → Abu Yahya al-Hammani → Abu Hanifah → Hasan ibn Saʿid al-Marwazi → Abu Yusuf → Khalid ibn ʿAlqamah → ʿAbd Khayr → ʿAli رضي الله عنه
ʿAli رضي الله عنه performed ablution, and it is mentioned that he wiped his head three times.
Imam al-Daraqutni's commentary:
“Abu Hanifah contradicted the trustworthy narrators by stating ‘three times.’”
He has elaborated on the evidences for wiping three times on page 91 – refer for further detail.
Al-Hidayah (1/21):
“Wiping the head three times is permissible, but with the same water, as narrated from Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله.”
Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (1/62–64):
It is narrated from Anas رضي الله عنه that he used to wipe his head three times, using fresh water each time.
The authentic Sunnah is to wipe the head once.
However, occasionally wiping three times is also permissible, as established from ʿUthman رضي الله عنه and other Companions and Tabiʿin.
Hādha mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Volume 1, Page 370
❖ Question
What is the ruling on wiping the head three times during ablution (Wudhu) in light of the purified Sunnah?
❖ Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
✿ The Prophetic Sunnah and the Method of Wiping the Head
In all authentic narrations that describe the method of ablution of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, it is consistently established that he wiped his head only once.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله wrote in Zad al-Ma‘ad (1/87):
“The correct view is that wiping the head is not repeated. Even when the other limbs were washed multiple times, the head was wiped only once. This is explicitly reported from him ﷺ, and there is nothing to the contrary that is authentically proven.”
✿ The Narrations About Wiping Three Times and Their Commentary
Some narrations mention wiping the head three times, but these are either non-explicit or weak.
Example: The statement of a companion, “He performed ablution three times,” or “He wiped his head twice,” – such reports are non-explicit.
One narration is attributed to ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, in which the Prophet ﷺ reportedly said:
“Whoever performed ablution and washed his hands three times, then wiped his head three times...”
However, this narration is transmitted through Baylmani and his father, both of whom are weak narrators.
✿ Hadith of ʿUthman رضي الله عنه in Sunan Abu Dawud
A narration recorded by Abu Dawud mentions:
“He wiped his head three times.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 231)
But Imam Abu Dawud himself comments:
“All the authentic narrations from ʿUthman indicate that the head was wiped only once.”
✿ Multiple Chains of Transmission from ʿUthman رضي الله عنه
The hadith of ʿUthman رضي الله عنه is transmitted through three chains, two of which are found in Abu Dawud and are of Hasan (good) status.
Refer to Hadith no. 107.
Narrated by Humran: He saw ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan رضي الله عنه performing ablution, and it is mentioned therein that he wiped his head three times.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar states in Fath al-Bari:
Abu Dawud narrated this report through two chains.
Ibn Khuzaymah and others have graded this narration as authentic.
“The addition of a trustworthy narrator is accepted.”
✿ References from Talkhīs al-Habīr and Other Books
In Talkhīs al-Habīr (1/85), it is mentioned:
Ibn al-Jawzi, in Kashf al-Mushkil, inclined towards affirming the repetition (of wiping).
◈ Statement of the Author:
“This is the truth, because even though one-time reports are more in number, they do not contradict the three-time reports. The issue pertains to Sunnah – and Sunnah may at times be performed and at other times be left out.”
Al-Sanʿani also adopted this view in Subul al-Salam (1/44), which is also quoted in Tamam al-Minnah (p. 91).
✿ Practice of the Tabi‘in and Imams
Ibn Abi Shaybah رحمه الله has reported from a group of Tabiʿin who used to wipe three times:
◈ Ibrahim al-Taymi
◈ Saʿid ibn Jubayr
◈ ʿAṭā’
◈ Zadhan
◈ Maytharah رحمهم الله
A similar narration is reported from Anas رضي الله عنه via Abu al-ʿAla’.
✿ Narration from Sunan al-Daraqutni
In Sunan al-Daraqutni (1/89):
Muhammad ibn Mahmood al-Wasiti → Shuʿayb ibn Ayyub → Abu Yahya al-Hammani → Abu Hanifah → Hasan ibn Saʿid al-Marwazi → Abu Yusuf → Khalid ibn ʿAlqamah → ʿAbd Khayr → ʿAli رضي الله عنه
ʿAli رضي الله عنه performed ablution, and it is mentioned that he wiped his head three times.
Imam al-Daraqutni's commentary:
“Abu Hanifah contradicted the trustworthy narrators by stating ‘three times.’”
He has elaborated on the evidences for wiping three times on page 91 – refer for further detail.
✿ Views from Jurisprudential Books
Al-Hidayah (1/21):
“Wiping the head three times is permissible, but with the same water, as narrated from Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله.”
Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi (1/62–64):
It is narrated from Anas رضي الله عنه that he used to wipe his head three times, using fresh water each time.
Conclusion
The authentic Sunnah is to wipe the head once.
However, occasionally wiping three times is also permissible, as established from ʿUthman رضي الله عنه and other Companions and Tabiʿin.
Hādha mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
