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The Quality of Washing the Hands in Ablution - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Quality of Washing the Hands in Ablution 2021-06-19 717 Views Ablution The first issue of difference in ablution between the Sunni and the Shia is the quality of washing the hands. The Shia, when washing the two hands during the ritual ablution, begin from the elbows down to the fingertips, while the usual method among the Sunni is the reverse, i.e.

they start from the fingertips up to the elbows. Of course, this is not a basic difference. All the Sunni jurisprudents consider the Shia’s method of washing the hands as correct. That is right! Some of them state that in some cases beginning from the fingertips is recommended. Nawawi in his Al-Majmu’, says, “Abu’l-Qasim Saymuri and his friend, Mawirdi, in the book entitled Hawi say that it is recommended to start from the fingertips during washing the hands in ablution.

So, one should pour water into his palm and reach it to the elbow by the palm of the other hand. The natural flow of water is not sufficient.

And if someone else pours water for him in ablution, it is recommended to pour water from the elbow to the fingertips and one who pours water should be on the left side.”(1) Also, a part of Al-Fiqh ala Al-Madhahib Al-Arba’a reads: “One of the recommendations in ablution for the Shafiite is to begin from the front part of the organs (the fingertips) provided that the water is taken by handfuls from a bowl or a vessel.

But if someone else pours water or water pours from something like a trumpet, it is recommended to begin from the elbows.” Except for the Shafiite, others have quoted the virtue of beginning from the fingertips when washing the hands in the ritual ablution. As far as the author scrutinized, no Sunni jurisprudent stated that beginning from the fingertips is compulsory.

A point worthy of mentioning about washing the hands is that the elbow should certainly be washed, as stipulated in traditions narrated by both the Sunni and the Shia : Jabir said: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) always washed the elbows in ablution. The honourable verse states the same thing too because the word “إلى” (into) is used as meaning “مع” (with) implying that the elbow should also be washed to a sufficient extent. The lexicographers and jurisprudents have stipulated this fact.