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Fatwa CenterWashing body part for ablution fully and then partially
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. During ablution, the rule is to wash every body part once, twice, or thrice with the exception of the ears and head. So when you wash the body parts, can you wash them once fully and then wash a part of it again? For example, if I wash the face, can I wash the whole face fully once, and then just the forehead, and then just the beard? Or if I wash the feet, can I wash the whole foot once, and then just the ankle, and then just the sole? I do make sure to not do it more than three times total. Is this permissible? May Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is sufficient in ablution to wash each body part once; however, washing three times is better with regard to the body part that may be washed thrice, such as the face, the hands up to the elbows, and the feet. An-Nawawi 
wrote:
"Muslims unanimously agreed that the obligation is to wash the body parts of the ablution once and that washing them thrice is an act of the Sunnah. There are authentic ahaadeeth that indicate that one should wash once, and other ahaadeeth indicate washing thrice or some body parts thrice and some twice and some once. Scholars said: the difference in the ahaadeeth is proof that all these manners are permissible and that washing thrice is the most perfect manner; however, washing once is sufficient." [Sharh Muslim]
The body part should be fully washed in each wash, regardless of whether it be the first, second, or third wash. The Maaliki scholar Al-Hattaab wrote, "He should do the same in the second and third wash as he did in the first in terms of where he starts and ends and making water reach the concealed parts and rubbing, etc." [Mawaahib Al-Jaleel]
Hence, if the person washes his face, for instance, once and then washes the forehead only in the second time, the first wash is the only one that counts, which is permissible; however, he did not wash thrice, which is the best manner of washing, as we mentioned above.
Allah knows best.
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