What is the wisdom behind washing some of the ablutionary limbs three times?
A Muslim must accept and submit to the rulings of Islamic law without seeking logical reasons, especially concerning acts of worship, because the wisdom behind acts of worship is from the unseen and is not known in detail. This was affirmed by Imam Al-Shatibi, who explained that the fundamental principle in acts of worship is pure devotion, not an examination of their detailed meanings, and that the intellect cannot independently grasp their meanings. Similarly, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that we do not know the wisdom behind some acts of worship, but the mere fact that Allah has commanded them is sufficient wisdom. In summary, the wisdom behind washing the ablution organs three times is to enhance cleanliness and perfection, as three is an intermediate number that achieves the thoroughness required by Islamic law, and this number is repeated in many areas of Islamic legislation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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