The Book of Purification

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said about the sea: “Its water is purifying, and its dead are lawful.” The Four, and Ibn Abi Shaybah, reported it; this wording is Ibn Abi Shaybah’s. Ibn Khuzaymah and al-Tirmidhi graded it authentic.

1 — Authentic. Abu Dawud (83), al-Nasa'i (1/50, 176, and 707), al-Tirmidhi (69), Ibn Majah (386), Ibn Abi Shaybah (131), and Ibn Khuzaymah (111) transmitted it through Safwan ibn Sulaym, from Sa'id ibn Salamah, from the family of Banu al-Azraq, from al-Mughirah ibn Abi Burdah—who was from Banu Abd al-Dar—who heard Abu Huraira say: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “Messenger of Allah, we travel by sea and carry only a little water with us. If we use it for ablution, we will go thirsty. May we perform ablution with it?” He replied—then he mentioned the hadith. Al-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan sahih” (good and authentic). I say: This chain of transmission is authentic. Some have criticized it on grounds that do not undermine it. The hadith also has corroborating reports; the details are in “the Original.”

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Water is purifying; nothing makes it impure.” The Three reported it, and Ahmad graded it authentic.

1 — Weak. Abu Dawud (66), al-Nasa'i (174), and al-Tirmidhi (66) transmitted it from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, who said: It was asked, “Messenger of Allah, may we perform ablution from the Well of Buda'ah, into which menstrual cloths, dogs’ flesh, and foul things are thrown?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: … [the rest of] the hadith. I say: It is an authentic hadith, even though one of its transmitters has been criticized as unknown; it has other chains and corroborating reports that authenticate it, as you will find explained in “the Original.”

A note: Regarding the hadith’s words, “into which menstrual cloths, dogs’ flesh, and foul things are thrown,” al-Khattabi said in Ma'alim al-Sunan (1/37): “Many people, when they hear this hadith, imagine that this was their regular practice and that they deliberately and intentionally did this. It should not be suspected of a protected non-Muslim, let alone an idolater, much less a Muslim! It has always been people’s practice, in the past and present, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to keep water clean and protect it from impurities. So how could one think that the people of that age—the highest ranks among the people of religion, the best community of Muslims, with water scarcer in their lands and greater need for it—would treat water this way, abusing it? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed whoever defecates at places where water is drawn and along its channels; how, then, could they make springs and sources of water places for impurities and dumping grounds for filth? That would not befit them. This happened only because the well was in a low-lying area, and floods would sweep these impurities from roads and courtyards, carry them along, and cast them into it. The water was so plentiful that these things falling into it did not affect it or change it.” 2 — His son quoted it in al-'Ilal (1/44), saying: “My father said: Rashdin ibn Sa'd connected its chain, saying: ‘From Abu Umama, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).’ Rashdin is not strong, and the correct version is mursal.”

Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Nothing makes water impure, except what overcomes its smell, taste, or color.” Ibn Majah reported it, and Abu Hatim judged it weak.

1 — Weak. Ibn Majah (521) transmitted it through Rashdin ibn Sa'd, who told us: Mu'awiyah ibn Salih, from Rashid ibn Sa'd, from Abu Umamah, with this report. It is weak because Rashdin is weak, and he also had confusion in its chain. 2 — His son quoted him in al-'Ilal (1/44), saying: “My father said: Rashdin ibn Sa'd connects its chain, saying: ‘From Abu Umamah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).’ Rashdin is not strong; the correct version is mursal.”

Al-Bayhaqi also reported: “Water is pure unless its smell, taste, or color changes because of an impurity that occurs in it.” 1 — Weak. Al-Bayhaqi reported it in al-Kubra (159–260), also from the hadith of Abu Umamah. Its chain contains Baqiyyah ibn al-Walid, who practiced tadlis and narrated it with an ambiguous ‘from’ formula. It has another chain, but that too is weak.

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When water reaches two qullahs, it does not bear impurity.” Another wording says, “It does not become impure.” The Four reported it, and Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban graded it authentic. 1 — Authentic. Abu Dawud (63, 64, and 65), al-Nasa'i (1/46 and 175), al-Tirmidhi (67), and Ibn Majah (517) reported it. It is an authentic hadith, and the criticisms made against it do not undermine it. Ibn Khuzaymah (92), al-Hakim (132), and Ibn Hibban (1249) graded it authentic.

A man who accompanied the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a woman to bathe using the water left over by a man, or a man to bathe using the water left over by a woman; rather, they should both scoop water together. Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i reported it, and its chain is authentic. 1 — Abu Dawud (81) and al-Nasa'i (1/130) transmitted it through Dawud ibn Abd Allah al-Awdi, from Humayd al-Himyari, from a man who accompanied the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I say: This chain is authentic, as al-Hafiz said.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bathe using the water left over by Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her). Muslim reported it (323). 1 — Authentic.

The compilers of the Sunan also reported: “One of the Prophet’s wives bathed in a large bowl. He came to bathe from it, and she said to him, ‘I was in a state of major ritual impurity.’ He replied, ‘Water does not become in a state of major ritual impurity.’” Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaymah graded it authentic. 1 — Authentic. Abu Dawud (68), al-Tirmidhi (65), and Ibn Majah (370) reported it through Simak ibn Harb, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas, who said: … the hadith. Al-Tirmidhi said, “This is a good, authentic hadith.” I say: It is so, although it comes through Simak from Ikrimah, a route that has been criticized. Notice: Al-Hafiz was mistaken in attributing it to the compilers of the Sunan, since al-Nasa'i did not report it. Also, Ibn Khuzaymah’s grading as authentic was for a wording other than this one.

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said about the cat: “It is not impure; it is one of those that move about among you.” The Four reported it, and al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaymah graded it authentic. 1 — Authentic. Abu Dawud (75), al-Nasa'i (1/55 and 178), al-Tirmidhi (92), Ibn Majah (367), and Ibn Khuzaymah (104) reported it through Kabshah bint Ka'b ibn Malik—who was married to Ibn Abi Qatadah—that Abu Qatadah came to her, and she poured water for his ablution. She said: A cat came to drink, so he tilted the vessel for it until it drank. Kabshah said: He saw me looking at him! He said, “Are you surprised, daughter of my brother?” I said, “Yes.” He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said—then he mentioned the hadith. Al-Tirmidhi said, “A good, authentic hadith.”

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A Bedouin came and urinated in a part of the mosque. The people rebuked him, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stopped them. When he had finished urinating, the Prophet ordered a bucketful of water to be poured over it. Agreed upon. 1 — Authentic. Al-Bukhari (219) and Muslim (284) reported it. It has other chains from Anas, and it has also been reported from Companions other than Anas.

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Two dead animals and two kinds of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead animals are locusts and fish; the two kinds of blood are the spleen and the liver.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah reported it, and it contains weakness. 1 — Ahmad (2/97) and Ibn Majah (3314) reported it; its chain is weak, as al-Hafiz indicated. However, it is soundly reported from Ibn Umar as a Companion statement (mawquf); such a report has the ruling of one raised to the Prophet (marfu'), as al-Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said.

Abu Waqid al-Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whatever is cut from a grazing animal while it is alive is carrion.” Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi reported it; this is al-Tirmidhi’s wording, and he graded it good (hasan). 1 — Good (hasan). Abu Dawud (2858) and al-Tirmidhi (1480) reported it through Ata ibn Yasar, from Abu Waqid al-Laythi, who said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Medina, people were cutting the humps of camels and the tails of sheep. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said—then he mentioned the hadith.

Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from their dishes, for they are for them in this world and for you in the Hereafter.” Agreed upon. 1 — Authentic. Al-Bukhari (5426) and Muslim (2067) reported it from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, who said: They were with Hudhayfah, and he asked for a drink. A Magian gave it to him. When he placed the cup in Hudhayfah’s hand, Hudhayfah threw it and said, “Had I not forbidden him more than once or twice!”—as if to say, “I would not have done this.” But I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Do not wear silk or brocade, and do not drink …” the hadith. This is al-Bukhari’s wording; his version has, “and for us in the Hereafter.” This sentence is not in Muslim’s version.

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever drinks from a silver vessel is only swallowing Hellfire into his belly.” Agreed upon. 1 — Authentic. Al-Bukhari (5634) and Muslim (2065) reported it.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a hide is tanned, it becomes pure.” Muslim reported it (366). The Four have the wording: “Any hide that is tanned …” 1 — Authentic. Muslim reported it (366). 2 — Al-Nasa'i (773), al-Tirmidhi (1728), and Ibn Majah (3609) also reported it from Ibn Abbas; it is authentic like the preceding report. Notice: Al-Hafiz (may Allah have mercy on him) was mistaken in saying, “The Four have it,” because Abu Dawud did not report the hadith with this wording; his wording is like Muslim’s.

Salamah ibn al-Muhabbiq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The tanning of the skin of a dead animal purifies it.” Ibn Hibban graded it authentic. 1 — Authentic. Although al-Hafiz was mistaken here: attributing this wording to Ibn Hibban through Ibn al-Muhabbiq is incorrect; rather, it is the wording of the hadith of A'ishah. The explanation is in “the Original.”