The ruling on adding “ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem” when mentioning the name of Allah before doing wudoo’

We have
discussed the issue of it being prescribed to mention the name of Allah when
doing wudoo’ in the answer to question no. 21241.

The format is
for the one who wants to do wudoo’ to say “Bismillah.” If he wants to add
the words “ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,” there is a difference of scholarly opinion
concerning that. Some scholars are of the view that that is more perfect,
and others are of the view that it is better not to add these words and to
limit it to saying “Bismillah.”

An-Nawawi (may
Allah have mercy on him) said regarding mentioning the name of Allah when
doing wudoo’:

It should be
understood that the more perfect way of mentioning the name of Allah is to
say “Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem”, but if one says “Bismillah” only, then
he has attained the virtue of mentioning the name of Allah, and there is no
difference of scholarly opinion on that score.

End quote from
al-Majmoo‘ (1/386).

Shaykh ad-Dardeer
al-Maaliki (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Mentioning the
name of Allah means saying, when washing the hands up to the wrists, “Bismillah.”
With regard to adding the words “ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem,” there is a
difference of opinion.

End quote from
ash-Sharh as-Sagheer li Aqrab al-Masaalik (1/122).

Shaykh ‘Abdullah
ibn Jibreen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no wudoo’ for one
who does not mention the name of Allah when doing it.” The point at which
that is to be done is when starting to wash the hands, or when starting to
rinse out the mouth. One should say, “Bismillah.” Some of the scholars are
of the view that it is obligatory, but it is waived in the case of one who
forgets or is unaware of it. As for the one who remembers, he should do that
by saying, “Bismillah,” and that is sufficient. If he completes it by saying
“Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem”, that is permissible.

End quote from
Sharh ‘Umdat al-Ahkaam by Ibn Jibreen.

With regard to
the view that if someone says “Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem”, it is not
acceptable, we have not come across any of the scholars saying this. Rather
their difference of opinion is as to whether it is better to add this phrase
or not, and not one of the scholars says that if someone adds it, his wudoo’
is not valid.

And Allah knows
best.