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Ruling on Three-Time Wiping in Wudū’: Understanding the Shādh Report

🧼 Clarifying the Meaning of the Three-Time Masḥ (Wiping) in Sunan Abī Dāwūd



❓ Question:


In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, there is a narration mentioning that the wiping (masḥ) over the head was done three times. What is the correct understanding of this narration?



📖 Answer by:


Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Shaykh Saʿīd Mujtabā Saʿīdī (ḥafiẓahullāh)




📌 1. Disagreement on Authenticity:


  • Scholars differ on the authenticity (ṣaḥḥat or ḍaʿf) of this narration.
  • Some scholars consider it ṣaḥīḥ (authentic), while others grade it as ḍaʿīf (weak).


📌 2. View of the Majority (Jumhūr) of Scholars:


  • The majority of scholars (jumhūr al-ʿulamāʾ) have issued fatāwā that wiping once (masḥ wāḥid) is sufficient and correct.
  • From a rational (dirāyah-based) perspective, repeating masḥ three times would no longer be considered "wiping", but would resemble washing, which contradicts the essence of masḥ.


📌 3. Classification as a Shādh (Irregular) Narration:


  • This narration is considered shādh.
  • A shādh (irregular) narration is one that may have a reliable chain, but is not practically acceptable, especially when it contradicts other well-established authentic narrations.
  • In such narrations, a trustworthy narrator reports something that conflicts with stronger and more widely accepted reports. Thus, it is not acted upon according to the principles of hadith.


✅ Summary:


  • One-time masḥ over the head during wudū’ is sufficient and established from the Prophet ﷺ.
  • The narration of three-time masḥ, even if authentic by some standards, is considered shādh and not acted upon by the majority.
  • The correct practice, according to the jumhūr, is to perform masḥ once, in accordance with the Sunnah.
 
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