Can I Wipe Only One-Fourth of My Head During Wudu?


Hanafi Fiqh

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

Is my Wudu valid if I perform Masah only over the sides of my head, avoiding thinning areas, as long as it covers a quarter of the head?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Valid Wudu

Yes, your wudu will be valid as long as you make sure that the wiped area of your head is above your ears. Thus, if one-fourth of the head is wiped, your wudu will be valid. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Sinful Without Excuse

Please remember that it is an emphasized sunna to wipe all of the head during wudu and that it is sinful to fail to do so on a regular basis without excuse. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Allah (Most High) says:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.” [Quran, 2:185]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching for ways to learn Islam reliably and was disappointed at the answers he found locally.

Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.

He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.