of the right hand, then the left; and with the right foot, then the left.

As for the face, the texts indicate that one does not begin with the right side when washing it—unless a person is unable to wash it all at once, in which case he begins with its right side. The same applies to the head.

The ears are wiped once, because they are two parts of a single limb and thus fall under wiping the head. If it were assumed that a person could wipe his head only with one hand, he would begin with the right side and with the right ear.

The evidence for the prescribed practice of beginning with the right is the hadith of Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, liked to begin with the right when putting on his sandals, combing his hair, purifying himself, and in all his affairs.” (1)

As for wiping over the khuffs, some scholars held that both should be wiped together (2), since, once wiped, they are like the head; and because al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “He wiped over his khuffs,” (3) without mentioning beginning with the right.

Other scholars held that beginning with the right is recommended (4), because wiping is subsidiary to washing, and because they are two limbs distinguishable from one another, unlike the head. The fact that beginning with the right was not mentioned is because it was known from his guidance, peace and blessings be upon him, that he liked to begin with the right, just as if he had said concerning ablution: “Then he washed his feet,” and had not