My father said, "I saw `Amr bin Abi Hasan asking `Abdullah bin Zaid about the ablution of the Prophet. `Abdullah bin Zaid asked for an earthenware pot containing water and performed ablution in front of them. He poured water over his hands and washed them thrice. Then he put his (right) hand in the pot and rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out thrice with three handfuls of water Again he put his hand in the water and washed his face thrice. After that he put his hand in the pot and washed his forearms up to the elbows twice and then again put his hand in the water and passed wet hands over his head by bringing them to the front and then to the back and once more he put his hand in the pot and washed his feet (up to the ankles.)"
Narrated Wuhaib:
That he (the Prophet (ﷺ) in narration 191 above) had passed his wet hands on the head once only.
Ablutions (Wudu') - Sahih al-Bukhari 192
This narration from Abdullah bin Zaid demonstrates the practical method of the Prophet's ablution, serving as a living demonstration for the companions to learn the proper sequence and manner of wudu'.
Commentary on the Sequence of Wudu'
The narration begins with washing hands thrice, establishing purity before touching other parts. This follows the divine order mentioned in Surah al-Ma'idah (5:6): "O you who believe! When you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows..."
Rinsing the mouth and nose three times each demonstrates thorough cleansing of these cavities, which are pathways for both spiritual and physical impurities.
The Washing of Face and Arms
Washing the face three times ensures complete coverage from hairline to chin and ear to ear. The forearms are washed up to the elbows twice, showing that some actions in wudu' may be performed twice while others thrice, based on prophetic practice.
Wiping the Head and Washing Feet
The narration shows passing wet hands over the head from front to back and then back to front. The companion Wuhaib's additional note clarifies that this wiping was done once, not thrice like other actions, demonstrating the variation in number of repetitions for different parts.
Washing the feet up to the ankles completes the wudu', fulfilling all obligatory acts mentioned in the Quran while following the prophetic sunnah in sequence and manner.