The Ruling of Washing the Feet in Wudu in the Light of Hadith
Taken from: Fatawa Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling of washing the feet in Wudu?
❖ Answer:
Washing the feet in Wudu is obligatory. It is authentically and consecutively reported from the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) through numerous Hadith that he always washed his feet. He never wiped over his bare feet without socks.
✿ Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ
(Surah Al-Ma’idah: 6)
“O you who believe! When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe over your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles.”
This verse of the Qur’an clearly commands washing the feet. Hence, it is proven that washing the feet in Wudu is obligatory. The correct interpretation of this verse is exactly this.
The Noble Prophet (ﷺ), who is the most reliable interpreter of the Qur’an and explained its verses through revelation by his words, actions, and approvals, taught washing the bare feet in Wudu, not wiping over them.
❖ Evidence from Hadith:
✿ Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
إن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى رجلا، لم يغسل عقبيه، فقال: ويل للأعقاب من النار
The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a man who had not washed his heels properly, and he said: “Woe to the heels from the Fire.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 165, Sahih Muslim: 242)
✿ In the words of Sahih Muslim:
ويل للعراقيب من النار
“Woe to the heels from the Fire.”
❖ Statements of Scholars:
✿ Imam al-Kasani al-Hanafi (رحمه الله, 587H) said:
This Hadith is proof that washing the feet is among the obligations of Wudu. It has been established through consecutive transmission that the Prophet (ﷺ) washed his feet in Wudu. No Muslim can deny this. Therefore, his words and actions clarify the intended meaning of the verse. From both connected and independent evidences, it is proven that in the verse, arjulakum is linked with washing and not with wiping. Thus, the duty is to wash the feet, not to wipe over them.
He further explained that if there appears to be a conflict between two modes of recitation, the ruling is like that of conflicting verses. If both can be applied, then both are acted upon; if not, then they are acted upon as far as possible. Here, it is impossible to combine washing and wiping on the same limb in the same condition, as no one among the Salaf held this view.
(Bada’i al-Sana’i, 1/6)
✿ Imam al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi (رحمه الله, 855H) said:
As for practical evidence, it has been firmly established through widespread transmission and consecutive texts that the Prophet (ﷺ) washed his feet in Wudu, and the Ummah has no difference of opinion regarding this.
(Al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah, 1/156)
