Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3295

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you rouses from sleep and performs the ablution, he should wash his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out thrice, because Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all the night."

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari contains profound wisdom regarding spiritual purification and physical cleanliness. The instruction to clean the nose three times upon waking is not merely a physical act but carries deep spiritual significance.

Scholars explain that during sleep, when consciousness diminishes, Satan finds opportunity to reside in the nasal passages. The triple cleansing serves to expel both physical impurities accumulated overnight and spiritual contamination. This practice demonstrates how Islamic teachings integrate bodily purification with spiritual protection.

The specification of three repetitions follows the prophetic sunnah of performing acts of worship in odd numbers, which is generally preferred in Islamic tradition. This teaching emphasizes that every aspect of ablution has divine wisdom behind it, transforming routine cleansing into an act of worship that protects believers from evil influences.

Juridical Rulings

The majority of scholars consider washing the nose during ablution after sleep to be strongly recommended (sunnah mu'akkadah), not obligatory. However, some early scholars regarded it as wajib (obligatory) when specifically waking from sleep.

The proper method involves taking water into the right nostril first, then the left, using the right hand for introducing water and the left for expulsion. This sequence follows the general principle in Islamic etiquette of beginning with the right side in acts of virtue and cleanliness.