The Ruling and Method of Washing the Feet in Wudu

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: In the Hanafi madhab is it sunnah mu’adkada to wash each foot three times? If so if you washing by pouring water in your  foot with a jug do you have to pour water on it three times? And if washing under a running tap/faucet do you have to put your foot under once, remove, put under it again, remove and then put it under a third time so that your foot is washed thrice?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

According to the Hanafi school, it is a confirmed sunna to wash each foot three times. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

When using a large jug/container of water, depending on its size, one may be able to wash one’s foot thrice with a single scoop. This is achieved by pouring, then rubbing; pouring, then rubbing and so on. Wastefulness is blameworthy and one should be wary of this.

Washing under a tap would be akin to continual washing. One simply washes the foot three times and has fulfilled one’s duty. There is no need to remove one’s foot from under the tap and then put it back. This is excessiveness and uncalled for.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani