Al-Muttalib bin 'Abdullah bin Hantab (narrated) that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar performed Wudu', washing each part of the body three times, and he attributed that to the Prophet (ﷺ).
The Book of Purification - Sunan an-Nasa'i 81
This narration from Abdullah bin Umar, transmitted through Al-Muttalib bin Abdullah bin Hantab, establishes the Prophetic precedent of performing each action in ablution (wudu) three times. The attribution to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gives this practice the highest religious authority.
Scholarly Commentary on Triple Repetition
The triple repetition in wudu represents the completion and perfection of the recommended manner of purification. Scholars consider this the most complete form of wudu, though performing each action once fulfills the obligatory requirement. The triple repetition ensures thorough cleansing and demonstrates extra care in religious observance.
Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi states in al-Mughni: "The sunnah is to wash each part three times, as this is what the Prophet (ﷺ) consistently did, and it represents the middle path between negligence and excess." This practice embodies the Islamic principle of moderation while achieving thorough purification.
Legal Ruling and Spiritual Significance
The majority of scholars consider triple repetition as sunnah mu'akkadah (emphasized tradition) rather than obligation. Imam Nawawi explains in al-Majmu': "While a single washing fulfills the fard (obligation), three repetitions complete the sunnah and bring greater reward."
Spiritually, the triple repetition symbolizes the purification of body, heart, and soul. Each washing serves as a reminder to cleanse not only physical impurities but also spiritual stains. As Al-Ghazali notes in Ihya Ulum al-Din: "The outer washing should prompt inner reflection on purifying one's character from moral defects."