The Manner of The Prophet's Wudu'

Humran b. Abban, the freed slave of ‘Uthman, said :
I saw ‘ Uthman’ b. ‘Affan while he performed ablution. He poured water over his hands three times and then washed them. He then rinsed his mouth and then cleansed his nose with water (three times). He then washed his right arm up to the elbow three times, then washed his left arm in a similar manner; then wiped his head; then washed his right foot three times, then washed his left foot in a similar manner, and then said : I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution like this ablution of mine. Then he (the Prophet) said: He who performs ablution like this ablution of mine and then offered two rakhahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, Allah will pardon all his past sins.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَبَانَ، مَوْلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَفْرَغَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا فَغَسَلَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى إِلَى الْمِرْفَقِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ قَدَمَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ الْيُسْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ مِثْلَ وُضُوئِي هَذَا ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ مِثْلَ وُضُوئِي هَذَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ لاَ يُحَدِّثُ فِيهِمَا نَفْسَهُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ " .

Humran said :
I saw ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan performing ablution. He then narrated the same tradition. In this version there is no mention of rinsing the mouth and snuffing up water. This traditions adds : “He wiped his head three times. He then washed his feet three times. He then said : I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution in like manner. He (the Prophet) said: He who performs ablution less than this, it is sufficient for him. 73 The narrator did not mention prayer (in this version).

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ وَرْدَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنِي حُمْرَانُ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ تَوَضَّأَ . فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الْمَضْمَضَةَ وَالاِسْتِنْشَاقَ وَقَالَ فِيهِ وَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ هَكَذَا وَقَالَ " مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ دُونَ هَذَا كَفَاهُ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَمْرَ الصَّلاَةِ .

‘Abd al-Rahman al-TamiI reported:

Ibn Abi Mulaikah was asked about ablution. He said : I saw ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan who was asked about ablution. He called for water. A vessel was then brought to him. He inclined it towords his right hand (poured water upon it). He then put it in the water three times, and washed his face three times. He then put his hand in the water and took it out; then he wiped his head and ears, in and out only once. He then washed his feet, and said : Where are those who asked me to perform ablution? I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution like that.

Abu Dawud said : All the sound traditions narrated by ‘ Uthman indicated that the head is to be wiped once, because they mentioned (the washing of each part in) ablution three times. In their versions of tradition they mentioned the wordings: “he wiped his head.” In this case they did not mention any number as they did in other cases.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الإِسْكَنْدَرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، قَالَ سُئِلَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنِ الْوُضُوءِ، فَقَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْوُضُوءِ، فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَأُتِيَ بِمِيضَأَةٍ فَأَصْغَى عَلَى يَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهَا فِي الْمَاءِ فَتَمَضْمَضَ ثَلاَثًا وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فَأَخَذَ مَاءً فَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأُذُنَيْهِ فَغَسَلَ بُطُونَهُمَا وَظُهُورَهُمَا مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُونَ عَنِ الْوُضُوءِ هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَوَضَّأُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَحَادِيثُ عُثْمَانَ - رضى الله عنه - الصِّحَاحُ كُلُّهَا تَدُلُّ عَلَى مَسْحِ الرَّأْسِ أَنَّهُ مَرَّةٌ فَإِنَّهُمْ ذَكَرُوا الْوُضُوءَ ثَلاَثًا وَقَالُوا فِيهَا وَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا عَدَدًا كَمَا ذَكَرُوا فِي غَيْرِهِ .

Abu ‘Alqamah said that ‘Uthman called for water and performed ablution. He then poured water with the right hand or the left hand ; he then washed them up to the wrist ; he then rinsed the mouth and snuffed up water three times. The narrator mentioned that ‘ Uthman washed each part three times. He then wiped head and washed his feet. He said :
I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution as you saw me perform ablution. He then reported the tradition like that of al-Zuhrl and completed it.

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي زِيَادٍ - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَلْقَمَةَ، أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ، دَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَأَفْرَغَ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى ثُمَّ غَسَلَهُمَا إِلَى الْكُوعَيْنِ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ مَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ ثَلاَثًا وَذَكَرَ الْوُضُوءَ ثَلاَثًا - قَالَ - وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ وَقَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ مِثْلَ مَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي تَوَضَّأْتُ . ثُمَّ سَاقَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَأَتَمَّ .

Shaqiq b. Salamah said :

I saw ‘ Uthman b. ‘ Affan (perform ablution). He washed his forearms three times and washed his head thrice. He then said : I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing like that.

Abu Dawud said: Another version says: "He performed ablution three times only."

حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ شَقِيقِ بْنِ جَمْرَةَ، عَنْ شَقِيقِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ غَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا وَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَلَ هَذَا . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ وَكِيعٌ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ تَوَضَّأَ ثَلاَثًا فَقَطْ .

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:

Abdu Khayr said: Ali came upon us and he had already offered prayer. He called for water. We asked: What will you do with water when you have already offered prayer? - Perhaps to teach us. A utensil containing water and a wash-basin were brought (to him).

He poured water from the utensil on his right hand and washed both his hands three times, rinsed the mouth, snuffed up water and cleansed the nose three times. He then rinsed the mouth and snuffed up water with the same hand by which he took water. He then washed his face three times, and washed his right hand three times and washed his left hand three times. He then put his hand in water and wiped his head once.

He then washed his right foot thrice and left foot thrice, then said: If one is pleased to know the method of performing ablution of the Messenger of Allah, this is how he did it.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ خَيْرٍ، قَالَ أَتَانَا عَلِيٌّ - رضى الله عنه - وَقَدْ صَلَّى فَدَعَا بِطَهُورٍ فَقُلْنَا مَا يَصْنَعُ بِالطَّهُورِ وَقَدْ صَلَّى مَا يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَنَا فَأُتِيَ بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ وَطَسْتٍ فَأَفْرَغَ مِنَ الإِنَاءِ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ فَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثَلاَثًا فَمَضْمَضَ وَنَثَرَ مِنَ الْكَفِّ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ يَدَهُ الشِّمَالَ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَدَهُ فِي الإِنَاءِ فَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا وَرِجْلَهُ الشِّمَالَ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ وُضُوءَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَهُوَ هَذَا .

‘Abd Khair said :
‘All offered the dawn prayer and went to Rahbah (a locality in Kufah). He called for water. A boy brought him a vessel containing water and a wash-basin. He held the vessel with his right hand and poured water over his left hand. He washed both of his hands (to the wrist) three times. He then put his right hand in the vessel ( to take water) and rinsed his mouth three times and snuffed up water three times. He then narrated almost the same tradition as narrated by Abu ‘Awanah. He then wiped his head, both its front and back sides, once. He then narrated the tradition in like manner.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجُعْفِيُّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَلْقَمَةَ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ خَيْرٍ، قَالَ صَلَّى عَلِيُّ رضى الله عنه الْغَدَاةَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الرَّحْبَةَ فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَأَتَاهُ الْغُلاَمُ بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ وَطَسْتٍ - قَالَ - فَأَخَذَ الإِنَاءَ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى فَأَفْرَغَ عَلَى يَدِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى فِي الإِنَاءِ فَتَمَضْمَضَ ثَلاَثًا وَاسْتَنْشَقَ ثَلاَثًا . ثُمَّ سَاقَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ مُقَدَّمَهُ وَمُؤَخَّرَهُ مَرَّةً . ثُمَّ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ نَحْوَهُ .

Malik b. Ghurfatah says :
I heard ‘Abd Khair say: I saw a chair was brought to ‘Ali who sat on it. A vessel of water was then brought to him. He washed his hands three times ; he then rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water with one handful of water. He narrated the tradition completely.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَالِكَ بْنَ عُرْفُطَةَ، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ خَيْرٍ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا - رضى الله عنه - أُتِيَ بِكُرْسِيٍّ فَقَعَدَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِكُوزٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ مَعَ الاِسْتِنْشَاقِ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ . وَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ .

Zirr b. Hubaish said that the heard that ‘ Ali was asked how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform ablution. He then narrated the tradition and said:
he wiped his head so much so that drops (of water) were about to trickle down. He then washed his feet three times and said: This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablutions.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَبِيعَةُ الْكِنَانِيُّ، عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا، رضى الله عنه وَسُئِلَ عَنْ وُضُوءِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ وَقَالَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ حَتَّى لَمَّا يَقْطُرْ وَغَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا كَانَ وُضُوءُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ .

‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Laila says:
I saw ‘ Ali performing ablution. He washed his face three times and his hands three times and wiped his head once. Then he (‘Ali) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform ablution in this way.

حَدَّثَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ الطُّوسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا فِطْرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا - رضى الله عنه - تَوَضَّأَ فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا تَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ .

Abu Hayyah said:
I saw ‘Ali perform ablution. He (Abu Hayyah) then described that ‘Ali went through every part of the ablution three times, i.e. he performed each detail of his ablution three times. He then wiped his head, then washed his feet up to the ankles. He then said: I wanted to show you how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، وَأَبُو تَوْبَةَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّةَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا - رضى الله عنه - تَوَضَّأَ فَذَكَرَ وُضُوءَهُ كُلَّهُ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا - قَالَ - ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ طُهُورَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ .

Ibn’Abbas said:

‘Ali b. Abi Talib entered upon me after he has passed water. He then called for water for ablution. We brought to him a vessel containing water, and placed it before him. He said: O Ibn’Abbas, may I not show you how the Messenger of Allahﷺ used to perform ablution? I replied : Why not? He then inclined the vessel to his hand and washed it. He then put his right hand in the vessel and poured water over the other hand and washed his hands up to the wrist. He then rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water. He then put both of his hands together in the water and took out a handful of water and threw it upon the face. He then inserted both of his thumbs in the front part of the ears. He did like that twice and thrice. He then took a handful of water and poured it over his forehead and left it running down his face. He then washed his forearms up to the elbow three times. He then wiped his head and the back of his ears. He then put both of his hands together in the water and took a handful of it and threw it on his foot. He had a shoe foot like that. Do you wash your foot while it is in the shoe? He replied : Yes, while it is in the shoe. This question and answer were repeated thrice.

Abu Dawud said: The version transmitted by Ibn Juraij from Shaibah is similar to the one narrated by ‘ Ali. In this version Hajjaj reported on the authority of Ibn Juraij the wording: He wiped his head once. Ibn Wahb narrated from Ibn Juraij the wording: he wiped his head three times.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُكَانَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْخَوْلاَنِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ عَلِيٌّ - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ - وَقَدْ أَهْرَاقَ الْمَاءَ فَدَعَا بِوَضُوءٍ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ بِتَوْرٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ حَتَّى وَضَعْنَاهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ أَلاَ أُرِيكَ كَيْفَ كَانَ يَتَوَضَّأُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ بَلَى . قَالَ فَأَصْغَى الإِنَاءَ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَغَسَلَهَا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى فَأَفْرَغَ بِهَا عَلَى الأُخْرَى ثُمَّ غَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ يَدَيْهِ فِي الإِنَاءِ جَمِيعًا فَأَخَذَ بِهِمَا حَفْنَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَضَرَبَ بِهَا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ أَلْقَمَ إِبْهَامَيْهِ مَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ الثَّانِيَةَ ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِكَفِّهِ الْيُمْنَى قَبْضَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَصَبَّهَا عَلَى نَاصِيَتِهِ فَتَرَكَهَا تَسْتَنُّ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ وَظُهُورَ أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ يَدَيْهِ جَمِيعًا فَأَخَذَ حَفْنَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَضَرَبَ بِهَا عَلَى رِجْلِهِ وَفِيهَا النَّعْلُ فَفَتَلَهَا بِهَا ثُمَّ الأُخْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ قَالَ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ قَالَ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ قَالَ وَفِي النَّعْلَيْنِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَحَدِيثُ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ عَنْ شَيْبَةَ يُشْبِهُ حَدِيثَ عَلِيٍّ لأَنَّهُ قَالَ فِيهِ حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً . وَقَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبٍ فِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ ثَلاَثًا .

‘Amr b. Yahya al-Mazini reports on the authority of his father who asked ‘Abd Allah b. Zaid, the grandfather of ‘Amr b. Yahya al-Mazini:
Can you show me how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution? ‘Abd Allah b. Zaid replied: Yes. He called for ablution water, poured it over his hands, and washed them; then he rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water in the nose three times; then he washed his face three times and washed his forearms up to elbow twice; then he wiped his head with both hands, moving them front and back of the head, beginning from his forehead, and moved them to the nape; then he pulled them back to the place from where he had started (wiping); then he washed his feet.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ - وَهُوَ جَدُّ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمَازِنِيِّ هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُرِيَنِي، كَيْفَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زَيْدٍ نَعَمْ . فَدَعَا بِوَضُوءٍ فَأَفْرَغَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ مَرَّتَيْنِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ بِيَدَيْهِ فَأَقْبَلَ بِهِمَا وَأَدْبَرَ بَدَأَ بِمُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ بِهِمَا إِلَى قَفَاهُ ثُمَّ رَدَّهُمَا حَتَّى رَجَعَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي بَدَأَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ .

‘Abd Allah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim reported this tradition saying:
He rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from one hand, doing that three times.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ فَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ مِنْ كَفٍّ وَاحِدَةٍ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثًا . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ .

Habban b. Wasi’ reported on the authority of his father who heard ‘Abd Allah b. Zaid al-Asim al-Mazini say that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution. He then described his ablution saying:
He wiped his head with water which was not what was left over after washing his hands (i.e. he wiped his head with clean water); then he washed his feet until he cleansed them.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّ حَبَّانَ بْنَ وَاسِعٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ الْمَازِنِيَّ، يَذْكُرُ أَنَّهُ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ وُضُوءَهُ وَقَالَ وَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ بِمَاءٍ غَيْرِ فَضْلِ يَدَيْهِ وَغَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ حَتَّى أَنْقَاهُمَا .

Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib al-Kindi:

The ablution water was brought to the Messenger ﷺ and he performed ablution; he washed his hands up to wrists three times, then washed his forearms three times. He then rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water three times; then he wiped his head and ears inside and outside.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَرِيزٌ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ، سَمِعْتُ الْمِقْدَامَ بْنَ مَعْدِيكَرِبَ الْكِنْدِيَّ، قَالَ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِوَضُوءٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأُذُنَيْهِ ظَاهِرِهِمَا وَبَاطِنِهِمَا .

Al-Miqdam b. Ma’dikarib reported :
I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ perform ablution. When he reached the stage of wiping his head, he placed his palms on the front of the head. Then he moved them until he reached the nape. He then returned them to the place from where he had started.

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، وَيَعْقُوبُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ الأَنْطَاكِيُّ، - لَفْظُهُ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ حَرِيزِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِيكَرِبَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَسْحَ رَأْسِهِ وَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى مُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ فَأَمَرَّهُمَا حَتَّى بَلَغَ الْقَفَا ثُمَّ رَدَّهُمَا إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي بَدَأَ مِنْهُ . قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي حَرِيزٌ .

Another version says:
He wiped his ears inside and outside. Hisham adds: He inserted his fingers in the ear-holes.

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، وَهِشَامُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ وَمَسَحَ بِأُذُنَيْهِ ظَاهِرِهِمَا وَبَاطِنِهِمَا . زَادَ هِشَامٌ وَأَدْخَلَ أَصَابِعَهُ فِي صِمَاخِ أُذُنَيْهِ .

AbulAzhar al-Mughirah ibn Farwah and Yazid ibn AbuMalik reported:

Mu'awiyah performed ablution before the people, as he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution. When he reached the stage of wiping his head, he took a handful of water and poured it with his left hand over the middle of his head so much so that drops of water came down or almost came down. Then he wiped (his head) from its front to its back and from its back to its front.

حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَزْهَرِ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ فَرْوَةَ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ، تَوَضَّأَ لِلنَّاسِ كَمَا رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ رَأْسَهُ غَرَفَ غَرْفَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَتَلَقَّاهَا بِشِمَالِهِ حَتَّى وَضَعَهَا عَلَى وَسَطِ رَأْسِهِ حَتَّى قَطَرَ الْمَاءُ أَوْ كَادَ يَقْطُرُ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ مِنْ مُقَدَّمِهِ إِلَى مُؤَخَّرِهِ وَمِنْ مُؤَخَّرِهِ إِلَى مُقَدَّمِهِ .

Another version says:
He performed each part of the ablution three times and washed his feet times without number.

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ بِغَيْرِ عَدَدٍ .

Narrated Ar-Rubayyi' daughter of Mu'awwidh ibn Afra':

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to come to us. He once said: Pour ablution water on me. She then described how the Prophet ﷺ performed ablution saying: He washed his hands up to wrist three times and washed his face three times, and rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water once. Then he washed his forearms three times and wiped his head twice beginning from the back of his head, then wiped its front. He wiped his ears outside and inside. Then he washed his feet three times.

Abu Dawud said: The tradition narrated by Musaddad carries the same meaning.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، عَنِ الرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْتِينَا فَحَدَّثَتْنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ " اسْكُبِي لِي وَضُوءًا " . فَذَكَرَتْ وُضُوءَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ فِيهِ فَغَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاَثًا وَوَضَّأَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا وَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ مَرَّةً وَوَضَّأَ يَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ يَبْدَأُ بِمُؤَخَّرِ رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ بِمُقَدَّمِهِ وَبِأُذُنَيْهِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا ظُهُورِهِمَا وَبُطُونِهِمَا وَوَضَّأَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذَا مَعْنَى حَدِيثِ مُسَدَّدٍ .

Ibn ‘Uqail reported this tradition with a slight change of wording. In his tradition he said:
He rinsed his mouth three times and snuffed up water three times.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَقِيلٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ يُغَيِّرُ بَعْضَ مَعَانِي بِشْرٍ قَالَ فِيهِ وَتَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْثَرَ ثَلاَثًا .

Al-Rubayyi’ daughter of Mu’awwidh b. ‘Afra’ reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution in her presence. He wiped the whole of his head from its upper to the lower part moving every side. He did not move the hair from their original position.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، عَنِ الرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ عِنْدَهَا فَمَسَحَ الرَّأْسَ كُلَّهُ مِنْ قَرْنِ الشَّعْرِ كُلَّ نَاحِيَةٍ لِمُنْصَبِّ الشَّعْرِ لاَ يُحَرِّكُ الشَّعْرَ عَنْ هَيْئَتِهِ .

Al-Rubayyi’ daughter of Mu’awwidh b. ‘Afra’ said:
I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing ablution. He wiped his head front and back, his temples and his ears once.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُضَرَ - عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، أَنَّ رُبَيِّعَ بِنْتَ مُعَوِّذِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ قَالَتْ، رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَوَضَّأُ - قَالَتْ - فَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ وَمَسَحَ مَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَمَا أَدْبَرَ وَصُدْغَيْهِ وَأُذُنَيْهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً .

Al-Rubayyi’ reported:
The Prophet ﷺ wiped his head with water which was left over in his hand.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَقِيلٍ، عَنِ الرُّبَيِّعِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ مِنْ فَضْلِ مَاءٍ كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ .

Narrated Ar-Rubayyi' daughter of Mu'awwidh ibn Afra':

The Prophet ﷺ performed ablution. He inserted his two fingers in the ear-holes.

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، عَنِ الرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَدْخَلَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ فِي جُحْرَىْ أُذُنَيْهِ .

Narrated Talhah ibn Musarrif:

I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wiping his head once up to his nape.

Musaddad reported: He wiped his head from front to back until he moved his hands from beneath the ears.

Abu Dawud said: I heard Ahmad say: People thought that Ibn 'Uyainah had considered it to be munkar (rejected) and said: What is this chain: Talhah - his father - his grandfather ?

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْسَحُ رَأْسَهُ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً حَتَّى بَلَغَ الْقَذَالَ - وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ الْقَفَا - وَقَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ وَمَسَحَ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ مُقَدَّمِهِ إِلَى مُؤَخَّرِهِ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ تَحْتِ أُذُنَيْهِ . قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِهِ يَحْيَى فَأَنْكَرَهُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَسَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ يَقُولُ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ زَعَمُوا كَانَ يُنْكِرُهُ وَيَقُولُ أَيْشِ هَذَا طَلْحَةُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

Sa'id ibn Jubayr reported: Ibn Abbas saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution. He narrated the tradition which says that he (the Prophet) performed each detail of ablution three times. He wiped his head and ears once.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَوَضَّأُ . فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ كُلَّهُ ثَلاَثًا ثَلاَثًا قَالَ وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَأُذُنَيْهِ مَسْحَةً وَاحِدَةً .