Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Sir please answer my following query:-

The scholars of Islam have differed on the type of purification of the feet [required] for the parts of the wudu. As per the HOLY QURAN[The proof] is the saying of the Most High: "And wipe your heads and your feet up to the anklebones."(5:6) "Thus it is obligatory to wipe, is based on the [Qur'anic] statement `and your feet' (verse 5:6).

Then how does Sunni sect of Muslim wash there feet during the Wuzu? If washing of feet is correct then on which verse of the Holy Quran it is based or on which Hadees?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Wash or wipe feet in wudu

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

O you who have believed, when you rise to offer the ‘salaah’ you must wash your faces;  and your and hands (and arms) upto the elbows; and wipe your heads; and (wash) your feet upto the ankles.  

Anyone who knows basic Arabic grammar will confirm that in the above quoted Aayah of Surah Maidah which describes the procedure for ablution, when the initial Command to wash the face and the hands is given, and then a command is given to wipe one’s heads, the last command of cleansing the feet would fall back to the original Command of washing. 

Besides there are several authentic narrations recorded from the Prophet (saws) and his companions whereby they always washed their feet in ‘wudu’ in preparation for prayer.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 111   Narrated by Hadrat Ali (r.a.) 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 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 (saws), this is how he (saws) did it.’

If one does not wash one’s feet but rather merely wipes one’s naked feet during ‘wudu’, their ‘wudu’ would be considered invalid; and because being in the state of valid ‘wudu’ is an absolute precondition for prayers, if one offers prayers in a state of invalid ‘wudu’, their prayers too would be invalid.  And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan