Hadith of Uthman ibn Affan (RA)
حمران, the freed slave of Uthman ibn Affan (RA), narrates that Uthman (RA) requested water for ablution. He performed wudu by washing both his hands three times, then rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose (one narration states he inhaled water into his nose), washed his face three times, then his right hand up to the elbow three times, followed by the left hand in the same manner. He then wiped his head, washed his right foot up to the ankles three times, followed by the left foot in the same manner. After this, he said:"I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) performing wudu in the same manner as I did." Then he narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever performs wudu like this, then stands and prays two rak‘ahs without letting his thoughts wander, his previous sins will be forgiven."
Ibn Shihab said: "Our scholars say that this is the most complete way of performing wudu."
[Bukhari: 1934, 124 | Muslim: 226]
Hadith of Ali (RA)
Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Layla narrates:"I saw Ali (RA) performing wudu. He washed his face three times, his hands three times, wiped his head once, and said: ‘This is how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed wudu.’"
[Sunan Abi Dawood – The narrators of this hadith are all reliable according to Bukhari.]
Verification:
This hadith is authentic. [Abi Dawood: 115 – with a chain of narrators meeting Bukhari's conditions for authenticity]
Hadith of Abdullah bin Zayd (RA)
Imam Malik narrates from Abdullah bin Zayd bin Asim (RA) regarding the wudu of the Prophet (ﷺ):"Then he wiped his head with both hands, moving them forward and then backward. He started from the front of his head, took his hands to the back of his head, and then returned them to where he had started. Then he washed his feet."
[Bukhari: 185, 186, 191, 192, 197, 199 | Muslim: 235]
Other Authentic Narrations on Wudu
Khalid al-Wasiti's narration:"The Prophet (ﷺ) took water, rinsed his mouth and inhaled water into his nose from a single handful, repeating this three times."
[Bukhari: 191 | Muslim: 235]
Wahb’s narration:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) rinsed his mouth, inhaled water into his nose, and expelled it with three handfuls of water."
[Muttafaqun Alayh (Agreed upon) – Bukhari: 186 | Muslim: 235]
Suleiman bin Bilal's narration:
"He rinsed his mouth, inhaled water into his nose, and expelled it three times using a single handful of water."
[Bukhari]
Was' bin Haban's narration:
"He wiped his head using water that was not leftover from washing his hands. He washed his feet until they were thoroughly clean."
[Muslim: 236]
Clarification by the Prophet (ﷺ)
Amr bin Shu‘aib narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather:A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, “O Messenger of Allah! How is purification (wudu) done?” The Prophet (ﷺ) then requested water in a vessel. He washed his hands three times, his face three times, his arms three times, wiped his head, inserted his index fingers into his ears, wiped the outer part of his ears with his thumbs and the inner part with his index fingers, then washed his feet three times. He then said: "This is how wudu is done. Whoever exceeds this or falls short has done wrong and acted unjustly."
[Abi Dawood – This hadith is Hasan (good) with a sound chain of narration up to Amr bin Shu‘aib.]
Verification:
This hadith is authentic.
[Musnad Ahmad: 2/180 | Abu Dawood: 135 | Ibn Majah: 422 | Nasai: 1/88 | Ibn Khuzaymah: 173 | Al-Bayhaqi: 1/79]
Key Lessons and Benefits
➊ Wudu is the primary condition for Salah (prayer).- The term "Wudu" (وضو) with a fatḥa (وَضُوْءٌ) refers to water used for purification.
- With a kasra (وُضُوْءٌ), it refers to the vessel containing the water.
- With a ḍamma (وُضُوْءٌ), it refers to the act of ablution itself.
- No companion introduced their own way of performing wudu.
- As Uthman (RA) demonstrated wudu, he emphasized: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performing wudu like this.”
- This confirms that scholars, teachers, and imams can teach wudu by demonstration.
- A proper wudu followed by two rak‘ahs of Salah without distractions results in the forgiveness of past sins.
- This highlights that proper wudu serves as an expiation for sins.
- Any action done with sincerity and according to Sunnah is accepted by Allah.
- If an act lacks either sincerity or Sunnah compliance, it remains deficient.
- Even if performing wudu in a flowing stream, water usage should be measured and moderate.
- Any addition or omission from the wudu demonstrated by the Prophet (ﷺ) is considered a form of injustice and wrongdoing.
Source:This content is taken from "Dhiya al-Islam fi Sharh al-Imam bi-Ahadith al-Ahkam" by Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.
