Ruling on Washing the Right Limbs First in Wudhu (Ablution)
Answered by: Shaykh Saifullah Sharif & Shaykh Hafiz Qamar Hasan (Hafizahumallah)❖ Question:
Is it obligatory to wash the right limbs first during wudhu? What if someone intentionally washes the left side first — is the wudhu valid?
Scholarly Response
According to some scholars, the instruction in the Hadith:"إِذَا تَوَضَّأْتُمْ فَابْدَءُوا بِمَيَامِنِكُمْ"
"When you perform wudhu, begin with the right side..."
…is a recommendation (istihbāb) rather than an obligation (wujūb).
Ruling Summary
① Washing the right limbs first is mustaḥabb (recommended/sunnah)
→ Based on authentic prophetic guidance and practice.
② Intentionally starting with the left side is makrūh (discouraged)
→ It opposes the Sunnah method.
③ However, this does not invalidate the wudhu
→ Wudhu remains valid (ṣaḥīḥ) despite the disliked action.
Conclusion
Following the Sunnah: It is better and more rewarding to begin with the right limbs during wudhu.
Avoiding makrūh actions: Intentionally starting with the left side is discouraged, but does not nullify the wudhu.- Wudhu remains valid, and the person does not need to repeat it.
