Fatwa

  1. Fatwa
  2. Tahaarah (Ritual Purity)
  3. Rulings on Wudu (Ablution)
  4. How to make Wudu

Using right hand to clean nose during ablution
Fatwa No: 338449

Question

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykh. Is it forbidden or disliked to use the right hand for cleaning one's nose during ablution? And is it only for ablution that one should use the left hand when cleaning one's nose, or should that also be done outside ablution? May Allaah reward you, Shaykh.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The permanent Sharia rule is that the right hand is used for what is respectful and the hand is used for other than that. 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, liked to start with the right (side) in all of his affairs; in his ablution, in combing his hair, and in putting on his slippers." Commenting on this hadeeth, Ibn Rajab said, "It indicates the preference of the right hand in all respectful and dignified activities, and the left in other than that." [Fat-h Al-Baari]

An-Nawawi said:

"It is recommended to start with the left for other than that, such as blowing the nose; cleaning oneself after answering the call of nature (Istinjaa'); entering the bathroom; going out of the mosque; taking off one's shoes, pants, and clothes; and removing dirt. This is deduced from many authentic ahaadeeth that are cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, including the hadeeth of ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that says that 'The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, liked to start with the right (side) in all of his affairs; in his ablution, in combing his hair, and in putting on his slippers.' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]" [Al-Majmoo‘]

Hence, cleaning the nose with the right hand during ablution or outside of it is permissible, but it is Khilaaf al-Awla (i.e. it is contradicting that which is better or it is better not to do). It is recommended to use the left hand in cleaning the nose during ablution or outside of it.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 91525.

Allah knows best.

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