Is it sufficient to wipe a few strands of the front hair – beneath the head covering – during ablution for prayer?

Wiping the head is a pillar of ablution, and jurists have differed regarding the amount that must be wiped. The correct view is that it is obligatory to wipe the entire head, as this is evident from Allah's command, and because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, consistently did so. It is permissible to wipe over part of the head along with the turban if it is difficult to remove, as it was reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wiped over his forelock and turban. However, the ghutrah, 'iqal, and qahfiyah (types of head coverings) are not analogous to this, due to the lack of difficulty in removing them.