Washing Each Body Part Once In Wudhu

Is it OK to wash each body part only ONCE during Wudhu – الوضوء?

Yes.

1- Ibn `Abbas said:
تَوَضَّأَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّةً مَرَّةً‏
‘The Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution by washing the body parts only once.’
[Sahih Bukhari, 157].

2- Imam Nawawi says in his Sharh of Sahih Muslim (1/114):

وقد أجمع المسلمون على أن الواجب في غسل الأعضاء مرة مرة، وعلى أن الثلاث سنة
“Muslims unanimously agreed that the obligation is to wash the body parts of the ablution once and that washing them thrice is an act of the Sunnah.”

3- In ‘Awn al-Ma’bood’ (1/160):

واعلم أنه اتفق العلماء على أن الوضوء يجزي مرة مرة ومرتين أفضل وأفضله ثلاث
“And you should know that all scholars agree that it is sufficient to wash each part only once during Wudhu. Washing each part twice is better and washing each part thrice is best.”

4- Al-Shawkani said in ‘Nayl’ (1/188):
وأن الثلاث هي الكمال والواحدة تجزئ
“Washing each part three times is most perfect and washing once is sufficient.”

5- Imam Bukhari said in his Sahih (1/91):

وبين النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن فرض الوضوء مرة مرة
“The Prophet made it clear that the obligation of Wudu’ is to wash each part once.”

Imam Bukhari has a Chapter on this: باب الوضوء مرة مرة

Imam Tirmidhi has a Chapter on this: باب ما جاء في الوضوء مرة مرة

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah has a Chapter on this: باب إباحة المضمضة والاستنشاق من غرفة واحدة، والوضوء مرة مرة

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Conclusion:

The Prophet sometimes washed each body part once;
sometimes twice;
And sometimes thrice!

But he never exceeded three, so Imam Bukhari and other scholars said it’s extravagance to exceed three.

If there is plenty of water available and you are not in a rush, it is best to wash each body part thrice.

However – washing each part once is sufficient.

This is agreed upon.

Some people don’t know that this is allowed – so the Shaytan makes them lazy: Wudhu will take a looooong time, you are tired, leave it for another time etc.

The truth is – you can do Wudhu in 1 minute.

And remember: Wudhu itself is an act of worship.

The aim is not to rush.