Q1) Please explain the method of washing the face including the chin in Wudhu. Sometimes I feel that it hasn’t been washed properly even if I move my thumbs under that area.
A1) The entire face must be washed in Wudhu, from the normal hairline, until the bottom of the chin, and from one earlobe to the other. The area underneath the chin towards the neck is not part of the face and does not have to be washed in Wudhu. Therefore, there is no need to put the thumbs underneath the chin or repeatedly wash that area. Simply wash the face properly and ensure that the area under the chin is washed.
Q2) Masah of the head is done once only, but my hair doesn’t really get wet and I might have a large head. I can’t do it once so I end up washing my hands and then putting them right in the centre and then re-washing and pressing my one hand down on one side so I am certain that I washed that side, and then do the same with the other side. Then I wet my thumbs and make Masah of the sides of my head. Is this correct?
A2) The Sunnah is to make Masah of the entire head once. It is not necessary for the hair to become visibly wet. The correct method is to wet both hands, place them at the front of the head, and pass them towards the back, ensuring that the entire head is covered. Thereafter, bring the hands back to the front without lifting them. There is no need to repeatedly wet the hands and wipe different portions of the head separately, nor press the hands down hard.
Once you have made Masah over the entire head you should regard it as complete and not entertain doubts that certain portions might not have been wiped.
«وَحَدُّ الْوَجْهِ مِنْ قَصَاصِ الشَّعْرِ إِلَى أَسْفَلِ الذَّقَنِ وَإِلَى شَحْمَتَيِ الْأُذُنِ
Hidaaya 1/16
وَقَالَ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ تَكَلَّمُوا فِي كَيْفِيَّةِ الْمَسْحِ وَالْأَظْهَرُ أَنْ يَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ وَأَصَابِعَهُ عَلَى مُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ وَيَمُدَّهُمَا إلَى الْقَفَا عَلَى وَجْهٍ يَسْتَوْعِبُ جَمِيعَ الرَّأْسِ
Bahrur Raa’iq 1/27
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Muhammad Yusuf Sulaiman
Date: 01 Jumaadal-Ulaa 1448 / 09 October 2026
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb