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Fatwa CenterHow to rinse the mouth and nostrils in ablution
Question
I want to know from you about the correct Sunnah about the rinsing the mouth and nostrils in ablution (Wudu). I have read from Al-Bukhaari that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to rinse his mouth and nose with just one handful of water together at one time, previously I used to wash my mouth first three times then sniffed up the water into my nostrils three times and blew it out with left hand, now if I have to practice this Sunnah should I have to take one handful of water and put some water in mouth, rinse it and put the remaining water of my hand into the nose and repeat this act three times or I have to put the water into the mouth and nose simultaneously to wash wash them.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
It is a Sunnah (a recommended act) to rinse the mouth and nose from the same handful of water and this should be done three times. It is confirmed that the method of performing ablution by the Prophet 
is as narrated by 'Uthmaan 
: "…Then he put his hands (in the container of water) and pulled out water and rinsed his mouth and sniffed up water into his nostrils from the same handful of water, and he did this three times." [Muslim and Abu Daawood] Al-Bukhari 
reported the narration with the following wording: "…Then he took a scoop of water and rinsed his mouth and sniffed up water into his nostrils." Moreover, Ibn Hibbaan reported the narration with the following wording: "Three times with three handfuls."
Imaam An-Nawawi stated in his commentary on the book of Imaam Muslim : 'There is a clear evidence in this narration about the correct method, and that the Sunnah in rinsing the mouth and sniffing up water into nostrils is that it should be done in three handfuls of water, rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into nostrils from each one of them.' This means that he takes a handful of water and rinses his mouth with some of this water and immediately sniffs water into his nostrils from the same handful of water in order to rinse it after rinsing his mouth.
Allaah Knows best.
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