Date : 31-08-2020

Question :

I work for a certain organization and can`t take off my shoes to perform Wudu`. I take off the right shoe, wash my foot and put my socks and shoe on and do the same for the left foot. Is my Wudu` valid taken that my right foot had dried before my left foot was washed?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.



 According to the reliable opinion of the Shafie Madhab (School of thought), washing Wudu` organs consecutively is an act of Sunnah, not an obligation. Washing one organ, then washing the next after the first had already dried doesn`t invalidate one`s Wudu`. Thus, there is no sin on the person performing Wudu` for leaving time interval between washing the right foot and the left.



Al-Shirbini (May Allah have mercy on him) said:"Washing the Wudu` organs consecutively is among the Sunnan of Wudu` in the sense that an organ doesn`t get dry before washing the next one where the air, time and place are all moderate. The evidence on this is that it was narrated that "He (PBUH) made Wudu` while in the market where he washed his face, hands to the elbows and wiped his head, then he was called to a funeral , so he went to the mosque and wiped over his leather socks (Khof)."Al-Shafie said: "There is a long time interval between wiping over his head and his leather socks. A sound Hadith was reported on the authority of Ibn Umar about not washing the Wudu` organs consecutively and that act wasn`t denied by anyone. Moreover, since this is an act of worship that can`t be  invalidated by leaving a short time interval between washing one organ and the next, so it can`t be invalidated by a long time interval, such as Hajj." {Moghni Al-Mohtajj}.



In conclusion, there is no sin on the above person (Asker) for washing his right foot, putting on the socks and the shoe then washing the left foot, even if the right had already dried. We recommend that he doesn`t leave a long time interval between washing the right foot and the left to avoid disputing with the scholars who consider washing the Wudu` organs consecutively an obligation. And Allah the almighty knows best.