Wiping Over the Head During Wudu for Women

Source: Based on the rulings compiled in the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.

Question:
Is it Sunnah for a woman, during Wudu, to wipe her head by starting from the front and moving her hands to the back, and then returning them to the front, as men do?

Answer:
Yes, it is Sunnah for women to wipe their heads during Wudu in the same manner as men. In Islamic jurisprudence, the general principle is that the rulings applicable to men also apply to women unless there is specific evidence that differentiates between them.

For wiping the head, no evidence suggests a separate ruling for women. Therefore, the proper method is as follows:
  1. A woman should start from the front part of the head,
  2. Move her hands to the back,
  3. Then return her hands to the front.

Clarification Regarding Long Hair:

  • If a woman has long hair, the length of her hair does not affect the ruling.
  • Wiping the head does not require pressing or wetting the entire hair or reaching the ends of the hair.
  • The action of wiping should be performed gently and calmly without exerting undue effort to wet the entire length of the hair.
(Answered by Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, رحمه الله)
 
Back
Top