Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikum.

Can you please help me with your knowledge on the following text, because what we have been doing The Masah of complete head including ears, but here one of my friend passing me a reference of Allamah Ibn Hajar asqalaani of wiping the Nape.

Jazakallah.

“Masah (passing wet fingers) Over the Nape.

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (radhiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Whoever performs wudhu and makes masah over his nape, he will be saved from wearing a necklace (of fire) around his neck on the the day of judgement". The famous commentator of Sahih al-Bukhari, Allamah Ibn Hajar Asqalaani (R.A), writes in his book Talkheesul Habeer (vol. 1: p.92) that this narration is Sahih. Allamah Shawkani (R.A.) has also affirmed this in Naylul Awtaar (vol. 1, p.204). “

Wassalam.

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Answer:

Wipe neck during wudu

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

O you who have believed! When you rise to offer the Salat, you must wash your faces and hands and your arms up to the elbows, and wipe your head with wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you become unclean, cleanse yourself with a full bath. If, however, you have ‘touched’ women and you can find no water, then cleanse yourselves with pure dust. Strike your palms on it and wipe your hands and faces with it. Allah does not will to make life hard for you, but He wills to purify you, and complete His blessings upon you so that you may show gratitude.

The command of wudu is from the above Aayah of Surah Maidah, and an obligatory pre-condition for performing the prayers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.155 Narrated by Humran

I saw Uthman (r.a.) performing ablution; he washed his hands thrice, rinsed his mouth and then washed his nose, by putting water in it and then blowing it out, and washed his face thrice, and then washed his right forearm up to the elbow thrice, and then the left-forearm up to the elbow thrice, then smeared his head with water, washed his right foot thrice, and then his left foot thrice and said, "I saw Allah's Messenger (saws) performing ablution similar to my present ablution.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 111 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Abdu Khayr said: ‘Ali came upon us and he had already offered prayer. He called for water. We asked: “What will you do with water when you have already offered prayer? - Perhaps to teach us.” A utensil containing water and a wash-basin were brought (to him). He poured water from the utensil on his right hand and washed both his hands three times, rinsed the mouth, snuffed up water and cleansed the nose three times. He then washed his face three times, and washed his right hand three times and washed his left hand three times. He then put his hand in water and wiped his head once. He then washed his right foot thrice and left foot thrice, then said: ‘If one is pleased to know the method of performing ablution of the Messenger of Allah (saws), this is how he (saws) did it.’

Respected brother in Islam, the wiping of the nape or neck is not accepted as a rite of ‘wudu’ by any of the four major schools of thought (Shafei, Maliki, Hanbali, and Hanafi); and the hadith related by Al-Asqalani is not accepted as authentic by them.

The act of ‘wudu’ is something the Messenger of Allah (saws) did thousands of times and hundreds if not thousands of his companions witnessed it…..the absolute majority of the companions who witnessed and narrated the rites of ‘wudu’ did not make mention of the wiping of the nape by the Prophet (saws). And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan