It is recommended to begin with the right side when washing the parts of ablution, as it is preferred in ablution; due to his saying, peace be upon him: "When you perform ablution, begin with your right side," as found in Sahih Ibn Hibban 3: 370, Sunan Ibn Majah 1: 141, Al-Mu'jam Al-Awsat 2: 21, and Mawa'id Al-Zaman 1: 350. And from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, she said: "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, liked to start with the right side in his purification when he purified himself, and in his combing when he combed - and combing means brushing - and in putting on his sandals when he put them on - which means wearing the sandals -" as found in Sahih Bukhari 1: 165, and Sahih Muslim 1: 226. The preference for starting with the right side is noted, along with the Prophet's, peace be upon him, consistency in starting with the right side when washing the parts; because there are two types of Sunnah: the Sunnah of guidance, and neglecting it leads to wrongdoing and dislike: like congregational prayer, the call to prayer, and the establishment of prayer, and similar matters, and the Sunnah of extras, and neglecting it does not lead to dislike or wrongdoing: like the Prophet's, peace be upon him, practices in his clothing, standing, sitting, eating with the right hand, and starting with the right foot. The Prophet's, peace be upon him, consistency in starting with the right side in ablution falls under the category of the Sunnah of extras, thus it is preferred. And because what is mentioned in the verse first is the face, then the hands, without specifying one before the other, then wiping, then washing the feet, without specifying the right before the left, it is not a requirement to follow the order in what the Quran is silent about; rather, it is preferred. See: Al-Tanqih 1: 124, Sharh Al-Waqaya p. 84-85, Al-Hidaya 1: 13, and Al-Binaya 1: 187.