The direction of wiping the head while performing ablutions

Question

When we wipe over our heads in wudu’, from which part of the head does a person start wiping?

Answered 

It is a point of unanimous agreement (ijmā’) among scholars, as asserted by Ibn `Abd al-Barr [al-Istidhkār (2/29)], “that whoever wipes upon his entire head has done what is required of him, regardless of whether he starts at the front, middle, or back of his head.” 

Though they agree upon the fact that any manner of wiping is acceptable, scholars are divided into two opinions as to exactly what is being described by the texts regarding how the head is to be wiped. 

The first opinion: The person should start wiping from the front of his head, wipe backwards and then forwards again. This is counted as a single wipe of the head. This is the view of the Hanafī, Mālikī, Shāfi`ī, and Hanbalī schools of law. It is the view of the vast majority of the Pious Predecessors. 

They cite the hadīth of `Abd Allah b. Zayd as evidence. 

Abd Allah b. Zayd b. Asim, while discussing the Prophet’s wudū’, relates that: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) wiped upon his head, moving his hands forward and back.” 

This hadîth is authentic. It is related in Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim. Mālik says [al-Mudawwanah al-Kubrā (1/3)]: “This is the clearest that I have heard regarding the wiping of the head.” It is a definitive proof for it. 

The second opinion: The person should start wiping from the back of his head, wipe forwards and then back again to the nape of the neck. This was the view of al-Hasan b. Hayy and others. 

They cite as evidence the hadīth related by al-Rabī` bint Mu`awwadh b. al-`Afrā’ wherein she describes the Prophet’s wudû’ and says: “He wiped upon his head twice, first starting from the back of his head and then from the front, and then (he wiped) upon his ears both inside and out.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Sunan Ibn Mājah, and others] 

Ibn Hajar discusses this hadīth in al-Talkhīs al-Habīr (1/84): “It has many lines of transmission and wordings, all of which pivot around `Abd Allah b. Muhammad b. `Aqīl, who is a criticized narrator.” 

There is also inconsistency in the wording of the various narrations of the hadīth, as pointed out by Ibn `Abd al-Barr in al-Istidhkār (2/29) and al-Tamhīd (20/125). This hadith has not the strength to contradict or qualify the hadīth of `Abd Allah b. Zayd. 

Therefore, the stronger view is the view of the majority; that it is better to start from the front of the head. 

-islamtoday.net