Is the Sunnah washing of the hands at the beginning of Wudu sufficient to fulfill the obligatory washing according to the Hanafis, along with the textual evidence from their books?
The Hanafis hold that washing the hands at the beginning of ablution is sufficient and obviates the need to wash them again thereafter, whether they were washed with the intention of fulfilling an obligation or not.
Their madhhab's details regarding washing the hands at the beginning (of ablution) are based on three opinions: 1. It is an obligation (fard), and performing it early is a sunnah. This opinion was chosen in Fath al-Qadir, al-Mi'raj, and al-Khazzaziyyah. 2. It is a sunnah that stands in place of an obligation, like al-Fatihah (in prayer). This opinion was chosen in al-Kafi. 3. It is a sunnah that does not stand in place of an obligation, so one must wash them again, both their exterior and interior. This is considered the soundest opinion by al-Sarakhsi.
Ibn Abidin clarified that there is no disagreement between these opinions, for the reward for an obligation is only attained with intention, even if the obligation itself is fulfilled without intention. Therefore, it is sunnah to wash the hands again when washing the forearms to attain the reward for the obligation through intention.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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