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Rubbing of Head and Feet In Ablution - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief Rubbing of Head and Feet In Ablution 2021-06-19 616 Views Ablution Another controversial issue in ablution is the rubbing of the head and the feet. The Shia rub only the front part of the head, while most Sunnis rub most or all the head. In fact, this difference is not so controversial and many jurisprudents do not consider rubbing the entire head obligatory.

For instance, Imam Shafi’i considers the least amount of rubbing sufficient. In Bidayat Al-Mujtahid, we read the following: Scholars have reached a consensus that rubbing the head in the ritual ablution is compulsory, but they are not in agreement about the amount of it. Malik believes in the obligation of rubbing the whole head. Shafi’i and some of the followers of Malik and Abu Hanifah believe that only rubbing a part of the head is necessary.

These disciples of Malik have determined a one-third amount for rubbing the head. Some others have set the two-thirds amount. Abu Hanifah says that the amount is one-fourth. Moreover, Abu Hanifah has determined a part of the hand to rub with, saying: “Rubbing the head with less than three fingers is not enough.” Shafi’i has determined no limitation for the hand nor for the head. (1) Ibn Rushd then adds: The main reason for this difference is that “بـِ” (to) has two meanings in Arabic; 1.

Addition (2) 2. Division. The usage of “بـِ” for division in Arabic is undeniable as agreed upon by the grammarians of Kufah. People who know this fact consider as obligatory to rub a part of the head.

They have referred to the tradition of Mughirah who said: “The honourable Prophet (a.s) performed ablution and rubbed the front part of the head and upon his turban.” Ibn Qudamah writes in his Al-Mughni, “It is also narrated from Ahmad that he deems legal rubbing a part of the head.” He then continues, “Abu Al-Harith says: “I asked Ahmad, ‘Does it suffice to rub just a part of the head and leave other parts?’ He answered, ‘Yes, it is sufficient.’”(3) It is narrated that A’ishah, Uthman and Ibn Umar rubbed the front part of the head during the ritual ablution.

(4) In Al-Mughni, Hasan, Sufyan Thawri, Awza’i and other opinionists are said to believe in rubbing a part of the head.