Wiping of Head and Feet

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ’For wiping the head it is sufficient to wipe a portion of it the size of three fingers and so also is the case of the feet.’”

“Ears are not (part) of the face or the head.“ He (Muhammad ibn Muslim) has said that wiping was mentioned, so he (the Imam) said, “You must wipe the front portion of your head, and you must wipe the two feet. You must first wipe the right side (foot).”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who wears a turban and it is difficult for him to remove it because of the cold. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can push his finger under the turban.”’

“I once said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’Please teach me on what basis you say that wiping is only on certain portions of the head and feet.’ He (the Imam) smiled and then said, ‘O Zurarah, the Messenger of Allah has said so and the book from Allah is revealed about it. It is because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Wash your faces.” From this we learn that one must wash the whole face. He (Allah) then has said, “And (wash) your hands upto (from) the elbows.” He (Allah) then has placed a disjointing in the statement saying, “You must wipe with.of your heads.” From His saying, “With/of your heads” we learn that wiping is only for a portion of the head because of His use of (Arabic letter) al-Ba’ (which means, “with” or “of”). He then has joined (the case of) the feet with that of the head. He has joined the rule of hands with the face, saying, “. . . and your feet up to the ankles” from which we learn that since He has joined it (wiping of feet) with the case of the head, wiping (of the feet) is also for certain portions of it. The Messenger of Allah explained it to people but they lost it. He (Allah) then says, “If you cannot find water, take a Tayammum with clean soil. Wipe your faces and hands therewith.” (5:6) Since He (Allah) has set aside Wudu’ in case you cannot find water He has established wiping (of face partially) as substitute for washing. He has said, “Wipe with/of your faces” and then has joined it with the expression, “and (wipe) your hands” and thereafter has said, “therewith” that is the soil. It is because He (Allah) knows that all of it (soil) does not go to the face. Some of the soil remains attached to certain parts of the palm and not to the other parts. He (Allah) then says, “Allah does not want to sanction in religion such matters that cause you hardships.” Hardships are difficulties.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘In the case of women it is sufficient for them to wipe the front portion of their head the size of three fingers without removing their head scarf.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), about wiping the backs of the feet as to how they must be wiped. He (the Imam) placed the palm of his hand over his toes add wiped to the ankles over the back of the feet. I then said, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what happens if one places two fingers and wipes up to the ankle?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it must be done with one’s palm.’”

“One who had seen abu al-Hassan (a.s.), in Mina narrated to me that he (the Imam) wiped over his feet to the ankles and from the ankles toward the backs of his feet and said that the matter about wiping the feet is simple. One may wipe forward or backward; it is one of the matters in which ease is granted by the will of Allah.’” (Fatwa best explains this Hadith.)

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘If you take Wudu’ and instead of wiping your feet wash them, thinking that this is what is obligatory, it is not considered Wudu’.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘First you must wipe your feet. Then if you like to wash them and you did so thereafter wipe them to make it the last obligatory act (of Wudu’).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One may live for sixty or seventy years while Allah has not accepted not even one of his Salah (prayer).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘How can that happen?’ He (a.s.) said, 'Because he washes what Allah ordered to be wiped.'

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if the back of one’s slipper is torn and he pushes his hand through the torn portion to wipe the back of his feet, is this acceptable?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is sufficient.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), once took Wudu’. He washed his face and forearms, then wiped on top of his head and over his shoes but he did not push his hand under his shoelaces.’” (Fatwa best explains this Hadith.)

It is not permissible until water reaches the skin of his head.’”