Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Guard against the two things which produce cursing.” He was asked what they were and said, "Relieving oneself where people walk, or where they sit in the shade.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Qatada reported God’s messenger as saying, "When one of you drinks he must not breathe into the vessel, and when he goes to relieve himself he must not touch his penis with his right hand, or wipe himself with his right hand.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "When anyone performs ablution he must clear his nose, and when anyone wipes himself with stones he must make use of an odd number.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said, "When God’s messenger entered the privy, a servant and I used to carry a skin of water and a pointed staff, and he would cleanse himself with the water.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that when the Prophet entered the privy he took off his ring. Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Tirmidhi transmitted it. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition, and Abu Dawud said this is a rejected (munkar) tradition. His version has "laid down” instead of "took off".

Jabir said that when the Prophet wished to relieve himself he went off where no one could see him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

One day when I was with the Prophet he wanted to pass water, so he went to some soft ground at the foot of a wall and did it, after which he said, "When any of you wishes to pass water, he should look for to do it in.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas said that when the Prophet wanted to relieve himself he did not raise his garment till he was near the ground. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "I am to you just like a father to his son, for I give you instruction. When you go to relieve yourselves do not face or turn your back to the qibla.” He commanded that three stones be used, he forbade the use of dung and decayed bones, and he forbade that a man should cleanse himself with his right hand. Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘A'isha said, “God’s messenger used his right hand for his ablution water and his food, and his left hand for his evacuations and anything objectionable.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She also reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you goes to relieve himself he should take with him three stones with which to cleanse himself, for they will be enough for him.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not cleanse yourselves with excrement or bones, for that is the provision of your brethren among the jinn.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, as also Nasa'i, but he did not mention “the provision of your brethren among the jinn.”

Ruwaifi' b. Thabit told that God’s messenger said to him, “You may live for a long time after I am gone, Ruwaifi', so tell people that if anyone ties his beard, or wears round his neck a string to ward off the evil eye, or cleanses himself with animal dung or bone, Muhammad has nothing to do with him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone applies collyrium he should do it an odd number of times. If one does so he has done well, but if not, there is no harm. If anyone cleanses himself with stones he should make use of an odd number. If one does so he has done well, but if not, there is no harm. If anyone eats he should throw away what he removes with a toothpick and swallow what he removes with his tongue. If one does so he has done well, but if not, there is no harm. If one goes to relieve himself he should conceal himself, and if all he can do is to collect a heap of sand he should sit with his back to it, for the devil makes sport with the posteriors of the children of Adam. If one does so he has done well, but if not, there is no harm.” Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

'Abdullah b. Mughaffal reported God's messenger as saying, “No one must pass water where he bathes and then wash in it or perform ablution in it, for all evil promptings come from it.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, as did Tirmidhi and Nasa’i, but they did not mention “then wash in it or perform ablution in it”.

'Abdullah b. Sarjis reported God’s messenger as saying, "None of you must pass water in a hole". Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

relieving oneself in watering-places, in the middle of the road, and in the shade.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God’s messenger as saying, "Two people should not go together to relieve themselves and uncover their private parts and talk, for God is angry with that.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Zaid b. Arqam reported God's messenger as saying, "These privies are peopled by jinn and devils, so when one of you goes there he should say, ‘I seek refuge in God from male and female devils.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying, "The covering between the eyes of the jinn and the private parts of the children of Adam when one of them enters the privy is provided by his saying, ‘In the name of God.’” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib tradition and that its isnad is not strong.

‘A'isha told that when the Prophet came out from the privy he said, "Grant Thy forgiveness.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said, "When the Prophet went to the privy I brought him water in a small vessel or a skin and he cleaned himself, after which he wiped his hand on the ground. I then brought him another vessel and he performed ablution.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

Al-Hakam b. Sufyan said that when the Prophet passed water he performed ablution and sprinkled his penis. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Umaima daughter of Ruqaiqa said that the Prophet had a wooden vessel under his bed in which he passed water at night. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

The Prophet saw me standing and passing water and said, "‘Umar, do not pass water standing." So I never did it again. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna has given a sound tradition from Hudhaifa who said that the Prophet came to a midden and passed water standing. (Bukhari and Muslim.) It is said that that had a valid reason.

‘A'isha said, “If anyone tells you that the Prophet used to pass water standing, do not believe him. He never passed water but when sitting.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Zaid b. Haritha reported on the Prophet’s authority that when he first received inspiration Gabriel came to him and taught him the ablution and the prayer. When he finished the ablution he took a handful of water and sprinkled his private parts with it. Ahmad and Daraqutni transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that Gabriel came to him and said, “When you perform ablution, Muhammad, sprinkle yourself.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said, “This is a gharib tradition, and I heard Muhammad (i.e. Bukhari) say that the traditions of al-Hasan b. ‘Ali al-Hashimi the transmitter are rejected.”

‘A'isha told of God’s messenger passing water and ‘Umar standing behind him with a jug of water. He said, “What is this, ‘Umar?” He replied, “Water for you to perform ablution with.” He said, “I have not been commanded to perform ablution every time I pass water. If I were to do so it would become a sunna” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub, Jabir and Anas said that when this verse came down, “In it are men who love to be purified, and God loves those who purify themselves,”* God’s messenger said, “God has praised you Ansar for purification. What does your purification consist of?” They replied, “We perform ablution for prayer, wash after seminal emission, and cleanse ourselves with water.” He said, “That is it, so keep on doing it.” *1. Qur'an, ix, 108. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salman said that a polytheist jestingly remarked, “I see that your friend teaches you even about your excrement,” to which he replied, “Yes, he has commanded us not to face the qibla, or cleanse ourselves with our right hands, or be satisfied with less than three stones among which there is no dung or bone.” Muslim and Ahmad transmitted it, the wording being Ahmad’s.

God’s messenger came out to us with a leather shield in his hand. He laid it down, then sat and passed water facing it. Someone said, “Look at him passing water as a woman does.” The Prophet heard him and said, “Woe to you! Do you not know what befell the ruler of the B. Isra'il? When any urine fell on them they cut it off with scissors; but he forbade them and was punished in his grave.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted it from ‘Abd ar-Rahman from Abu Musa.

I saw Ibn ‘Umar make his camel kneel facing the qibla, then sit down and pass water in its direction, so I said, “Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman, has this not been forbidden?” He replied, “No, that was forbidden only in open country; but when there is something between you and the qibla to conceal you, there is no harm.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas reported that when the Prophet came out of the privy he said, “Praise be to God who has removed harm from me and kept me in health.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud told that when the deputation of the jinn came to the Prophet that said, “Messenger of God, forbid your people to cleanse themselves with bone, animal dung, or charcoal, for in them God has provided provision for us.” So God’s messenger forbade them to do that. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “Were it not that I might distress my people, I would order them to delay the evening prayer and use the tooth stick at every time of prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Shuraih b. Hani’ said that he asked ‘A'isha what God’s messenger did first when he entered his house, and she replied that he used the tooth-stick. Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said that when the Prophet got up to pray during the night he cleansed his mouth with the tooth-stick. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

clipping the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, snuffing up water, cutting the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes, and intiqas, i.e. cleansing oneself with water.” The narrator said, “I have forgotten the tenth, but it may have been rinsing the mouth.” Muslim transmitted it. A version substitutes circumcision for letting the beard grow. I have not found this version in the two Sahihs or in al-Humaidi’s book mentioned it. as did al-Khattabi in Ma'alim as-sunan* from Abu Dawud by the transmission of ‘Ammar b. Yasir. *Brockelmann, Geschichte ae arabischen Litteratur, Supp., I, 267, 275, calls this work Ma'alim as-sunna, but the title given above is more likely to be correct, as it is a commentary on Abu Dawud’s Sunan.

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “The tooth-stick is a means of purifying the mouth, and is pleasing to the Lord.” Shafi‘i, Ahmad, Darimi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Bukhari transmitted it in his Sahih without an isnad.

modesty (but some say circumcision), the use of perfume, the use of the tooth-stick, and marriage.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that the Prophet did not awake after sleeping by night or by day without using the tooth-stick before performing ablution. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She also said, “The Prophet was accustomed to use the tooth-stick and then give it to me to wash it. I would first use it myself, then wash it and hand it to him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “I had a dream in which I was using a tooth-stick, when two men, one older than the other, came to me. I handed the tooth-stick to the younger of the two and was told to respect the senior, so I handed it to the older.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Umama reported God’s messenger as saying, “Gabriel never came to me without ordering me to use the tooth-stick, with the result that I have been afraid of chafing the front of my mouth.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have said much to you about the tooth-stick.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger was using the tooth-stick when two men, one older than the other, were with him. A revelation came to him about the excellence of the tooth-stick in which he was told to show proper respect, and give it to the older of the two. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

She reported God’s messenger as saying, “The prayer before which the tooth-stick is used is seventy times more excellent than that before which it is not used.” Baihaqi transmitted it in the Shu'ab al-iman.

I heard God's messenger say, “Were it not that I would distress my people, I would order them to use the tooth-stick before every prayer, and I would postpone the evening prayer till a third of the night had passed.” He said that Zaid b. Khalid used to attend the prayers in the mosque with his tooth-stick on his ear where a clerk carries a pen, and did not get up to pray without using it, after which he put it back in its place. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and also Abu Dawud, but he did not mention, “I would postpone the evening prayer till a third of the night had passed.” Tirmidhi said that this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “When one of you awakes from sleep he must not dip his hand in the vessel till he has washed it three times, for he does not know where his hand was during the night.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)