Is it recommended to wipe the back of the neck in the Shafii school?

The imams of the Shafi`i school differed regarding this. The position chosen by Imam Nawawi and most of the scholars of discernment (al-ashab) to be relied upon is that is not a sunna to wipe the back of the neck in wudu. This is the relied upon position (mu`tamad) of the school.

A number of the early imams of the Shafi`i school said that wiping the back of the neck is a sunna. Among those who said this are Imam Qadi Husain, Mutawalli, Baghawi, and Ghazali. Thus, however wishes to follow them in this may do so.

- Amjad Rasheed.

(Translated by Faraz Rabbani)

السؤال : هل يسن مسحُ الرقبة في المذهب الشافعي ؟

الجواب : اختلف أئمتنا في ذلك فالذي اعتمده الإمام النووي وأكثر الأصحاب أن مسح الرقبة ليس بسنة وهو معتمد المذهب ، وقال جماعةٌ من أئمتنا المتقدمين إن مسحها سنة كالإمام القاضي حسين والمتولي والبغوي والغزالي ، فمن شاء تقليدهما في ذلك جاز ، والله أعلم .