Facing Doubts about Wudu’ Forgetting or Mixing Proper Order

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘When you are certain that your Wudu’ has become invalid you must take Wudu’. You must never invent a Wudu’ until you are certain that your Wudu’ has become invalid.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘While taking Wudu’ if you are not certain of washing your forearm, you must go back to wash it and repeat all of the acts of Wudu’ that you doubt about its being washed or wiped which Allah has commanded to be done. This applies when you are still taking Wudu’, but when you complete Wudu’, stand up and move to another condition such as Salah (prayer) or something else, and then doubt about something which Allah, most High has mentioned or has made obligatory on you as part of Wudu’, then there is nothing necessary for you to do. If during Wudu’ you doubt about wiping your head and you can find moisture in your beard, you must use such moisture to wipe your head and feet and if you do not find such moisture, you must not consider your Wudu’ invalid because of such doubt but you must proceed to your Salah (prayer). If you become certain that your Wudu’ is left incomplete, you must return to complete that which you are certain is left incomplete.’ Hammad has said that Hariz said that Zurarah has said, ‘I asked him (the Imam) about a man who has left out a certain part of his forearm or a certain part of his body for Ghusl (bath) because of sexual relation.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one doubts so and there is still moisture on him when he is in his Salah (prayer), he must wipe that part. If he becomes certain of a part being left incomplete, he must go back to complete it by pouring water on the part which is left dry and is without moisture. If one doubts while he has already assumed another condition, he must proceed to his Salah (prayer). There is nothing necessary for him to do about it. However, if it is discovered to have been left incomplete, he must go back to pour water on it; but if he finds moisture on it he only must wipe it and perform his Salah (prayer) again with certainty. If he has doubt about it there is nothing necessary for him to do because of such doubt and he must proceed to his Salah (prayer).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If during Salah (prayer) you remember that you have left certain obligatory acts of your Wudu’ incomplete, you must go back to complete what you forgot to do out of the acts of Wudu’ and perform your Salah (prayer) again. For wiping your head and feet, it is sufficient to get moisture from your beard, when you forget to wipe the front portion of your head.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one forgets to wash his right (forearm) but washes his left (forearm), wipes his head and feet and then remembers, he must wash his right (forearm), his left (forearm), wipe his head and feet. If one forgets to wash his left (forearm), he must wash his left (forearm) and he does not have to wash what is washed before it (left forearm).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must maintain the prescribed order for Wudu’.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘You must maintain the sequence in the acts of Wudu’ as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said. You must begin to wash your face, then wash your hands (forearms), then wipe your head and feet. You must not do any of such acts before what is next in the sequential order, which (is what) the command requires to maintain. If you wash your forearms before your face, you must begin with your face and wash your forearms again. If you wipe your feet before your head, you must wipe your head and then wipe your feet again. Begin with what Allah has said to begin with.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you forget and wash your forearm before your face, you must go back to wash your face, then wash your forearms, after washing your face. If you begin to wash your left forearm before washing your right forearm you must wash your right forearm, then wash you left forearm. If you forget wiping your head until you wash your feet, you must wipe your head, then wash your feet (in the case of Taqiyah).”’

If while taking Wudu’ something happens that keeps you busy and your Wudu’ dries up, you must do your Wudu 5 again; it is not permissible to divide WuduY”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I may sometimes begin to take Wudu’ but water is finished before Wudu’ is complete and I ask the slave-girl for more water; but she delays and my Wudu’ dries up. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must do your Wudu’ again.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who forgets in his Wudu’ to wash his forearm and head. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must do it again; it is necessary to maintain the prescribed sequence in the acts of Wudu’.’”