Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)
Question:
What is the method for a woman to wipe her head during ablution (wudu)? Can a woman wipe only a part of her head under any necessity?
Answer:
The ruling for wiping the head in ablution is the same for both men and women. It is necessary to wipe the head, including the ears, up to the back of the head. It is not required for women to wipe all the way to the ends of their hair. Authentic Hadiths establish that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to wipe from the front part of the head to the end (nape). The fundamental principle is that men and women are equal in the rulings of Shariah, except in cases where a specific exemption is made based on Shariah evidence.
Question:
What is the method for a woman to wipe her head during ablution (wudu)? Can a woman wipe only a part of her head under any necessity?
Answer:
The ruling for wiping the head in ablution is the same for both men and women. It is necessary to wipe the head, including the ears, up to the back of the head. It is not required for women to wipe all the way to the ends of their hair. Authentic Hadiths establish that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to wipe from the front part of the head to the end (nape). The fundamental principle is that men and women are equal in the rulings of Shariah, except in cases where a specific exemption is made based on Shariah evidence.