The third question of Fatwa no. 20196 If, while performing Wudu' (ablution), I forgot to wash a small part of (Part No. 4; Page No. 92) a limb that must be washed during Wudu', which I remembered immediately after Wudu'. Should I repeat Wudu' in this case, or is it enough to wash the part I forgot?

A: One of the conditions of Wudu' is washing all the necessary parts in close sequence. Thus, if a person forgets to wash a body part that must be washed in Wudu', or even a small area of it, and remembers it while performing Wudu' or immediately after it when the other washed parts are still wet, they may wash the part they forgot and the subsequent limbs only. However, if they remember having forgotten to wash a body part that must be washed in Wudu', or even a small area of it, after it is dry or while or after performing Salah (Prayer), they should repeat Wudu' as prescribed by Allah and perform the whole Salah again. This is because the condition of washing the required body parts in sequence was not met and a long period has intervened (between forgetting and remembering the action). Allah made it obligatory that all the required body parts should be washed during Wudu'. Accordingly, whoever omits even a very small area of a limb that must be washed in Wudu', it is as if it were wholly omitted. This is supported by the Hadith narrated on the authority of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) saw a person performing Wudu', but he left a nail-size space on his feet (unwashed). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded him to repeat the Wudu' and Salah. The man went back and repeated the Salah. (Related by Ibn Majah in his Sunan) Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud related a similar Hadith. (Part No. 4; Page No. 93) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.