Limits of Wudhu
Question :

Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said the one who transgresses the limits in his wudhu is like the one who has broken his wudhu. What does the Imam mean here? What limits is he referring to? For example, I know that it is recommended to wash beyond the obligatory parts of the face; does this narration make things like this prohibited or does it break one's wudhu?

Answer :

The mentioned is not what the tradition means. What the tradition means is observing the religious guidelines when performing the wudhu and not to cross them, for example: wiping replaced with washing, or wiping the bottom of the foot instead of its top, and similar cases where the religious restrictions are transgressed.

Things to Say Before Wudhu
Question :

What is obligatory to say before starting wudhu?

Answer :

There are no mandatory words to be said before performing wudhu.

Recommended Acts of Wudhu
Question :

I have heard that to wash your right arm you must first have water in your right hand and then put it in your left hand and then pour it over the right arm, is this true?

Answer :

The said steps are recommended and not obligatory.

Somebody Pours the Water
Question :

Is it permissible during ablution that somebody else pours the water from a pitcher or jug, and the person performing wudhu washes the parts of the wudhu?

Answer :

This does not affect the correctness of the wudhu but it is disliked.

Ways of Wudhu
Question :

I have heard some people say that we should wash the face and both arms three times each, and I have heard others say that we should wash them twice only. Which is the correct way?

Answer :

Wudhu is not correct if the face or arms are washed three times, in such a way that each wash is complete and covers the entire part. It is sufficient to wash the face and arms once. Washing them twice is permissible.
One washing can comprise of pouring water over the face or arms once, twice, thrice or more times.