Purification

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd reported that he saw the Prophet perform ablution and wipe his head with water other than the water remaining on his hands. Al-Tirmidhī transmitted it; Muslim transmitted it with additions.

Abū Umāma described the Messenger of Allah’s ablution and said: ‘He would wipe the corners of his eyes.’ He also said: ‘The ears are part of the head.’

Ibn Mājah, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Tirmidhī transmitted it. Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī noted that Ḥammād was unsure whether ‘the ears are part of the head’ was said by Abū Umāma or by the Messenger of Allah.

ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb, reporting from his father, from his grandfather, said: ‘A Bedouin came to the Prophet and asked him about ablution. He showed him, washing each part three times, then said: “This is how ablution is performed. Whoever does more than this has done wrong, transgressed, and acted unjustly.”’

Al-Nasāʾī and Ibn Mājah transmitted it; Abū Dāwūd transmitted a report with the same meaning.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Mughaffal heard his son say: ‘O Allah, I ask You for the white palace on the right side of Paradise.’ He said: ‘My son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Fire. I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “There will be people in this community who transgress in purification and supplication.”’

Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and Ibn Mājah transmitted it.

Ubayy ibn Kaʿb reported that the Prophet said: ‘A devil attends ablution, called al-Walahān, so beware of the whispering caused by water.’

Al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah transmitted it. Al-Tirmidhī called it gharīb and said its chain is not strong according to hadith scholars: they knew of no one who traced it to the Prophet except Khārija, whom their scholars considered weak.

Muʿādh ibn Jabal said: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah wiping his face with the edge of his garment after performing ablution.’ Al-Tirmidhī transmitted it.

ʿĀʾisha said: ‘The Messenger of Allah had a cloth with which he dried his limbs after ablution.’

Al-Tirmidhī transmitted it and said: ‘This is not a well-established report; Abū Muʿādh, its transmitter, is considered weak by hadith scholars.’

Thābit ibn Abī Ṣafiyya said: ‘I asked Abū Jaʿfar, Muḥammad al-Bāqir, “Did Jābir tell you that the Prophet performed ablution washing each part once, twice, and three times?” He said, “Yes.”’ Al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah transmitted it.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd said: ‘The Messenger of Allah performed ablution, washing each part twice, and said: “It is light upon light.”’

ʿUthmān said: ‘The Messenger of Allah performed ablution, washing each part three times, then said: “This is my ablution, the ablution of the prophets before me, and the ablution of Ibrāhīm.”’

Rāzīn transmitted these two reports. Al-Nawawī declared the second weak in his commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.

Anas said: ‘The Messenger of Allah used to perform ablution for every prayer, while each of us was served by one ablution as long as nothing invalidated it.’ Al-Dārimī transmitted it.

Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā ibn Ḥibbān said: ‘I asked ʿUbayd Allāh ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, “From whom did ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar take the practice of performing ablution for every prayer, whether he was already in a state of purity or not?” He replied: “Asmāʾ bint Zayd ibn al-Khaṭṭāb told him that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥanẓala ibn Abī ʿĀmir, known as Ibn al-Ghasīl, told her that the Messenger of Allah had been commanded to perform ablution for every prayer, whether already in a state of purity or not. When that became burdensome for him, he was commanded to use the tooth-stick before every prayer, and the ablution requirement was lifted except when ritual impurity occurred.” ʿUbayd Allāh said: “ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar thought he was able to keep doing this, and he continued until he died.”’ Aḥmad transmitted it.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ reported that the Prophet came upon Saʿd while he was performing ablution and said: ‘What is this waste, Saʿd?’ He asked: ‘Can there be waste in ablution?’ He replied: ‘Yes, even if you are beside a flowing river.’ Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah transmitted it.

Abū Hurayra, Ibn Masʿūd, and Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Prophet said: ‘Whoever performs ablution and mentions Allah’s name thereby purifies his whole body. Whoever performs ablution without mentioning Allah’s name purifies only the parts reached by ablution.’

Abū Rāfiʿ said: ‘When the Messenger of Allah performed the ablution for prayer, he moved his ring on his finger.’

Al-Dāraquṭnī transmitted both reports, and Ibn Mājah transmitted the latter.

Abū Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: ‘When a man positions himself between a woman’s four limbs and exerts himself with her, ritual bathing becomes obligatory, even if there is no ejaculation.’

Abū Saʿīd reported that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Water is required only on account of water [emission].’ Muslim transmitted it. Muḥyī al-Sunna said that this ruling was abrogated.

Ibn ʿAbbās said: ‘“Water is required only on account of water” applies to a wet dream.’ Al-Tirmidhī transmitted it. The compiler says he did not find it in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections.

Umm Salama reported that Umm Sulaym asked: ‘Messenger of Allah, Allah is not shy of the truth. Must a woman perform ritual bathing if she has a wet dream?’ The Prophet replied: ‘Yes, if she sees the fluid.’ Umm Salama covered her face and asked: ‘Messenger of Allah, can a woman have a wet dream?’ He replied: ‘Yes. How else would her child resemble her?’

Muslim added, in the version narrated by Umm Sulaym: ‘A man’s fluid is thick and white, and a woman’s fluid is thin and yellow. Whichever of the two prevails or comes first determines the resemblance.’

ʿĀʾisha, the Prophet’s wife, reported that when the Prophet performed the full ritual bath after sexual impurity, he began by washing his hands. Then he performed ablution as for prayer, inserted his fingers into the water and worked them through the roots of his hair, poured three handfuls of water over his head with both hands, and then poured water over his entire body.

In a version transmitted by Muslim, he first washed his hands before putting them into the vessel. Then he poured water from his right hand onto his left, washed his private parts, and performed ablution.