This applies to the ghusl (full-body washing), as Ahmad explicitly stated in several places. This is because the ghusl for janaba (major ritual impurity) is more comprehensive; it covers the entire body, and in it, the undersides of dense hair, the areas under the eyelids and similar places are washed. The interior of the eyes is part of the body that can be washed, so if it is not mandatory, it should at least be recommended. The correct view is that this is not a sunna in either wudu' or ghusl, because the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—did not do it, nor did he command it, and it causes harm. What was mentioned about Ibn ‘Umar is proof of its disliked nature, because it caused his eyesight to fail. Performing an act from which one fears the loss or impairment of eyesight, without a basis in Islamic law, is at least disliked (makruh), if not strictly forbidden.
21 - Issue; he said: (And the interdigital wiping of the toes).
Interdigital wiping (takhil) of the fingers and toes in wudu' is a sunna, and it is more emphatic in the toes due to the statement of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to Laqit ibn Sabira: "Perform wudu' completely and perform takhil of the fingers." This is a sahih (authentic) hadith (1). Al-Mustawrid ibn Shaddad said: I saw the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—when he performed wudu', rubbing his toes with his little finger. It was recorded by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and al-Tirmidhi (2), who said: We do not know it except from the hadith of Ibn Lahi‘a (3). It is recommended to perform takhil of the toes with one's little finger due to this hadith, and one should begin with the right foot from its little toe to its big toe, and on the left foot from its big toe to its little toe, because the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—loved to begin with the right side (4) in his wudu'. In this, there is beginning with the right side (5).
Section: It is recommended to rub one's foot with one's hand and to be attentive to the heels and the areas that are slippery.
(1) And it was preceded in Issue no. 18, page 147. (2) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on Washing the Feet, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/32. And Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on Interdigital Wiping of the Fingers, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/152. And al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter on Interdigital Wiping of the Fingers, from the Chapters on Purification. ‘Aridat al-Ahwadhi 1/57. (3) Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abd Allah ibn Lahi‘a ibn ‘Uqba al-Hadrami al-Masri, the hafiz, jurist, and judge, who died in the year 174 AH. Al-‘Ibar 1/264-265, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 5/373-379. (4) In M: "al-tayammun" (beginning with the right). (5) In M: "tayammun" (beginning with the right).
