Chapter: How to Perform Wudu'
• I asked Ahmad: "Is washing the hands three times before wudu' mandatory?" He said: "It is one of the Sunan (traditions/supererogatory acts) of wudu'." I said: "What if his hands are clean, and he does not wash them?" He was lenient regarding this.
• And I heard Ishaq say: "When you perform wudu', wash your hands before you put them into the vessel. If your hands are clean, there is no harm in putting them into the vessel before washing them. Then, wash your palms three times, rinse your mouth three times, and inhale water into the nose three times. There is no harm if you rinse your mouth and inhale water together if there is water remaining in your palm, so use it to inhale. Then wash your face three times, and wash your arms to the elbows three times. Wipe your head and your ears—both their exterior and interior—once. Then wash your feet to the ankles three times. It is sufficient for you to do it once or twice if you perform the wudu' thoroughly, but three times is the ultimate degree beyond which there is nothing."
He said: "If some of his wudu' is performed three times, and some once or twice, that is permissible, due to the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn Zayd, from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that he did so."
174 - Abu Bakr al-Humaydi narrated to us, he said: Sufyan narrated to us, he said: 'Amr ibn Yahya narrated to us, from his father, from 'Abdullah ibn Zayd, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed wudu', and he washed his face three times, and his hands twice.
[Chapter: Rinsing the Mouth and Inhaling Water]
• I asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal about rinsing the mouth and inhaling water from a single handful of water? He said: "Yes." It was said: "Is it sufficient for him not to insert his fingers into his mouth?" He said: "Yes."
