Washing the organs of ablution a different number of times
19-7-2009 | IslamWeb
Question:
As Salam alaykum,
The question is if I begin my Wuduu with the washing of my hands thrice, must the remaining washings be done thrice as well or they can be different in number of performance?
Answer:
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is not obligatory for the Muslim who washed his hands thrice at the beginning of the ablution to wash the rest of the organs three times as well. The Prophet performed ablution as follows: “He washed his hands thrice and then he put his hands in the pot and rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out with three handfuls of water. Again he put his hand in the water and washed his face thrice and washed his forearms up to the elbows twice; and then put his hands in the water and then passed them over his head by bringing them to the front and then to the back once, and then he washed his feet up to the ankles.” [Al-Bukhari and others] The Hadeeth indicates the permissibility of washing the organs of ablution a different number of times, since the Prophet first washed his hands thrice then washed his forearms up to the elbows twice. The obligatory number of times for washing the organs is one time, while the extra times are recommended and the best recommended number of times for washing is three times. For further information, refer to Fatwa 84841.