Questions Regarding Wudhu

[Lanatin]

(bismillah)

(salam)

Since it is mandatory upon us in this holy month to get our wajibat done without any shortcomings, i'd like anyone to answer the following questions regarding how wudhu is conducted :-

1. Is gargling/washing your mouth wajib, mustahab or just an unnecessary bid'a?

2. Does your right arm have to be washed twice or only once like your left arm?

3. Should the water for the right arm first be placed in your right hand then passed over to your left hand or is this unnecessary?

Answers based on sahih narrations and the fiqhi views of Sistani will be appreciated.

[MadeehaBatool23]

http://najaf.org/?lang=english&tab=eng_link&cat=learn&id=l_ablution

Gargling/ washing your mouth is mustahab, not wajib and your right arm has to be washed once, although if you want to, you can wash it twice.

[Basim Ali]

1. Is gargling/washing your mouth wajib, mustahab or just an unnecessary bid'a?

Mustahab. Personally, I avoid it when I'm fasting for the sake of precaution.

http://www.*******.org/hadiths/tahara/wudu/chapter-29

2. Does your right arm have to be washed twice or only once like your left arm?

Once. It is said that in the wudhu, once is an obligation, twice is not rewarded and thrice is bida' and Haraam. Ideally, one should take only three handfuls of water, one for the face and two for each of the arms (or take one handful and divide it into three, but I guess the former is easier) unless one is not satisfied with the extent of the washing.

http://www.*******.org/hadiths/tahara/wudu/chapter-31

Sayyid Sistani's website says the second washing is recommended.

http://sistani.org/index.php?p=251364&id=48&pid=2153 (#254)

3. Should the water for the right arm first be placed in your right hand then passed over to your left hand or is this unnecessary

I haven't really read about any such recommendation anywhere but that's what I've seen prayer manuals teach too. I skimmed through al-Faqih and Sayyid Sistani's website, but see anything about it. So I'm not sure about this one. Nonetheless, it's obviously not obligatory.

(salam)