Actions Done While Wudu is Being Completed

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question:

I remember reading that wudu should be done as one act to be valid. I also remember reading a person can pause between washing different parts and continue doing wudu as long as the last washed part was still wet (this, I assume, represents continuity within one act). I have two Questions:
 
1) I'm at home and start wudu at the kitchen sink. When I come to washing my feet I go to the bathroom sink or tub instead. As long as my other parts did not dry, is this still considered valid? This sometimes comes up at the office where I start wudu in the shared bathroom, but finish in my wudu in my office (using a spare water bottle and my waste-basket as a makeshift sink).
 
2) Same situations as above, but I am distracted on my way to wash my feet by my daughter whom I placate by getting her a toy (or my boss who just wants a quick word on my progress - or also needs placating with a baby toy ;) ). After the quick distraction, I continue to go make wudu as usual and finish with my feet. Is this still one action? Is this still valid if my other parts haven't dried while I was being distracted or should I start over?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam,

It is a confirmed sunna to do the wudu without undue interruption, unless there is a reasonable excuse to interrupt it, in which case it would not be blameworthy to wash the different parts one after the other.

Wassalam,
Faraz.

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