I am 28 years old. I often used to perform Wudhoo’ (ablution) without wiping my ears with water because I had heard that wiping the ears is a recommended Sunnah and not an obligation. Recently, I came to know that it is an obligation since the ears are part of the head. What is the sharia-ruling on my past prayers, Hajj and ‘Umrah?

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

Wiping the ears is a recommended Sunnah according to the opinion of the majority of scholars. Consequently, leaving it does not nullify Wudhoo’ or prayer.

The adopted opinion of the Hanbali scholars, however, is that wiping the ears is obligatory. According to them, abandoning wiping does not nullify Wudhoo’ but it incurs sin if deliberately done. Since your prayer is valid, praise be to Allaah, your Hajj and ‘Umrah are valid as well.

Allaah Knows best.