Fatwa #3255530 March 2015United States of America
Is it fardh to rewash the hands when washing the arms
Question
I was trying to learn more about wudhu and saw that this Maliki scholar made a video of him making wudhu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wXD_hLE92w) at around 3:38the man translating behind him states that it is Fardh for a person to rewash their hands when doing the arm. However, a Hanafi scholar made a video of himself making wudhu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ0U_xPTom0) and he doesn't rewash his hands when doing his arm. I follow the Hanafi madhhab, but which opinion is more correct? In addition, if rewashing one's hands is Fardh, does that mean all of one's prayers in the past without doing that are invalid and require repraying?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
According to the Hanafi point of view, to maintain sequence in washing the limbs of wudhu is not necessary. Furthermore, it is not compulsory (Fardh) for a person to rewash his hands after washing the arm. Therefore, one will not have to repeat the past prayers if wudhu was performed without rewashing the hands.[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Asim Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Venda, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
قوله: (فرض الوضوء أربعة) لقوله تعالى: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ} [المائدة: 6]. فالله تعالى أمرنا بغسل الأعضاء الثلاثة ومسح الرأس، والأمر من الله للإيجاب. منحة السلوك في شرح تحفة الملوك (ص: 52)
اتفق الأئمة على الفرائض الأربعة المذكورة في القرآن الكريم، وهي غسل الوجه، وغسل اليدين إلى المرفقين، ومسح الرأس كلاًّ أو بعضاً، وغسل الرجلين إلى الكعبين، ولم يزد الحنفية عليها شيئاً، خلافاً للأئمة الثلاثة .... الفقه على المذاهب الأربعة (59/1)
دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت -لبنان