36. And it is authentically reported that Rasoolullah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)

said The two ears are a part of the head. [Reported by at-Tirmidhee, no.37; Abu Dawood, no.l34 and Ibn Maajah, no.444]. (Declared by ash-Shaikh al-Albaanee to be sahih - as-Saheehah, 1/36 - and Imam Ahmad was of the view that wiping the ears has the same ruling as that for wiping the head.)] As for those who hold the view that it is a sunnah they do not have any evidence except their regarding this hadith as being da'if - it is however authentic due to a chain of narration which they did not come across and so the proof is with our saying - and Allaah Knows best. And of the scholars who hold that they are part of the head are Ibn al-Musayyib, 'Ataa, al-Hasan, Ibn Seereen, Sa'eed ibn Jubair and an-Nakha'ee and it is the saying of ath-Thauree and Ahl ur-Ra'y and Imams Malik and Ahmad ibn Hanbal. TAKING FRESH WATER FOR THE HEAD AND EARS