Mishkat al-Masabih

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you awakes from sleep and performs ablution he must clear his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.” (Bukhari and Muslim) ‘Abdallah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim, on being asked how God’s messenger used to perform ablution, called for ablution water and poured it over his hands, washing each hand twice. He then rinsed his mouth and cleared his nose with water three times. He then washed his face three times, then washed each arm twice up to the elbows, then wiped his head both front and back with his hands, beginning with the front of the head and moving them to the nape of the neck, then bringing them back to the place from which he began. He then washed his feet. Malik and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud has something similar. The author of the Jami‘ mentioned it. In the version of Bukhari and Muslim ‘Abdallah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim was asked to perform ablution for them as God's messenger had done, so he called for a vessel and, pouring water from it on his hands, he washed them three times, then inserted his hand and brought it out, rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from the palm of one hand, doing that three times. He then inserted his hand and brought it out and washed his face three times, then inserted his hand and brought it out and washed each arm up to the elbows twice, then inserted his hand and brought it out and wiped his head both front and back with his hands. He then washed his feet up to the ankles and said, “This is how God’s messenger performed ablution.” A version says that he moved them to the front and the back beginning with the front of his head, then moving them to the nape of his neck, then bringing them back till he reached the place from which he had begun, after which he washed his feet. Another version says that he rinsed his mouth, snuffed up water and cleared his nose three times with three handfuls of water. Another version says that he rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from one palm, doing that three times. In a version by Bukhari he wiped his head front and back with both hands once, then washed his feet up to the ankles. In another by him he rinsed his mouth and cleared his nose with water three times from one handful.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger performed each detail of his ablution once, doing no more than that. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that the Prophet performed each detail of his ablution twice. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Uthman performed ablution in places where people sat and said, “Shall I not show you how God’s messenger performed ablution?” He then performed each detail thrice. Muslim transmitted it.

We returned from Mecca to Medina with God’s messenger, and when we came to some water on the way some of the people hurriedly performed ablution at the time of the afternoon prayer; but they were too hasty, and when we reached them their heels were dry, no water having touched them. God’s messenger therefore said, “Woe to the heels because of hell! Complete the ablution.” Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba said that the Prophet performed ablution, wiping his forelock and over his turban and shoes. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that the Prophet liked to begin with the right as much as possible in all his affairs, in his purification, combing his hair, and putting on his sandals. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you put on your clothes and when you perform ablution begin with the right side.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sa'id b. Zaid reported God’s messenger as saying, "He who does not mention God’s name while performing ablution is not credited with having performed it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it from Abu Huraira, and Darimi from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri from his father, and they added at the beginning, “He who has not performed ablution is not credited with observing prayer”.

Laqit b. Sabira said that he asked God's messenger to tell him about ablution and he replied, “Perform ablution completely, let the water run between the fingers and toes,* and snuff up water freely unless you are fasting!’ *In the text only asabi’ is used, but this word is used for either fingers or toes, and on the analogy of the following traditions I have translated it as above. There it says “the asabi’ of your hands and your feet". Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it up to “between the fingers and toes”.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you perform ablution let the water run between your fingers and your toes.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar. Tirmidhi said that this is a gharib tradition.

Al-Mustaurid b. Shaddad said that he saw God’s messenger rubbing his toes with his little finger when he performed ablution. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas said that when God’s messenger performed ablution he took a handful of water, and putting it under his chin, made it go through his beard, saying, “Thus did my Lord command me.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Uthman said that the Prophet used to make the water go through his beard. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

I saw ‘Ali perform ablution. He washed the palms of his hands till he cleaned them, then rinsed his mouth three times, snuffed up water three times, washed his face three times and his forearms three times, wiped his head once, then washed his feet up to the ankles, after which he stood up and, taking the remainder of his ablution water, he drank it standing. Then he said, “I wanted to show you how God’s messenger performed ablution.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

We were sitting looking at ‘Ali when he performed ablution. He inserted his right hand, filled his mouth, rinsed it, snuffed up water and ejected the mucus with the left hand, doing this three times, then said, "If anyone is pleased to look at God's messenger’s method of performing ablution, this is how he did it.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that he saw God’s messenger rinse his mouth and snuff up water from one hand, doing that three times. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet wiped his head and also the inside of his ears with his forefingers and the outside with his thumbs. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ar-Rubaiyi‘ daughter of Mu'awwidh said that she saw the Prophet performing ablution, saying that he wiped his head front and back, his temples and his ears once. A version says that he performed ablution and inserted his two fingers in his ear-holes. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted the first version, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah the second.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that he saw the Prophet perform ablution, and that he wiped his head with water which was not what was left over after washing his hands, . Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Muslim transmitted it with additions.

Abu Umama mentioned how God’s messenger performed ablution, saying that he used to wipe the corners of his eyes, and he said that the ears are treated as part of the head. Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and the last two mentioned that Hammad said he did not know whether “the ears are treated as part of the head” belongs to what Abu Umama said, or to what God’s messenger said.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, quoting his father on the authority of his grandfather, said that a nomadic Arab came to the Prophet and asked him about ablution. He demonstrated it, performing each detail three times and then said, “This is how ablution should be performed. If anyone does more than this, he has done wrong, transgressed, and done wickedly.” Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted something to the same effect.

‘Abdallah b. al-Mughaffal on hearing his son say, “O God, I ask Thee for the white palace on the right of paradise,” said, “Sonny, ask God for paradise and seek refuge in Him from hell, for I heard God’s Messenger say, ‘There will be some among this people who will go over the score in ablution and supplication.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ubayy b. Ka‘b reported the Prophet as saying, “Ablution has a devil called al-Walahan, so guard against the confusion caused by water.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said, “This is a gharib tradition whose isnad is not considered by traditionists to be strong, because we know of no one but Kharija who traced it to the Prophet, and in the opinion of our school he is not strong.”

Mu'adh b. Jabal said that he saw God’s messenger wiping his face with the hem of his garment when he performed ablution. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger had a cloth with which he dried his limbs after ablution. Tirmidhi who transmitted it said, “This is a tradition which is not of value, and Abu Mu'adh the transmitter is considered by traditionists to be weak.”

Thabit b. Abu Safiya said that he asked Abu Ja'far, i.e. Muhammad al-Baqir, whether Jabir had told him that the Prophet performed the details of ablution sometimes once each, sometimes twice, and sometimes thrice, and he replied that he had. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that God’s messenger performed the details of ablution twice each, and said, “It was a light upon a light.”

‘Uthman said that God’s messenger performed each detail of ablution three times and then said, “This is how I perform ablution, how the prophets before me performed it, and how Abraham performed it.” Razin transmitted these two traditions, but in his commentary on Muslim Nawawi declared the second to be weak.

Anas said that God’s messenger used to perform ablution for every prayer, but that they made the ablution serve as long as they did nothing which broke the state of ceremonial purity. Darimi transmitted it.

Muhammad b. Yahya b. Hibban said that he asked ‘Ubaidallah b. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar from whom ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar got the practice of performing ablution for every prayer whether he was in a state of purity or not, and he replied that Asma’ daughter of Zaid b. al-Khattab told him that ‘Abdallah b. Hanzala b. Abu ‘Amir al-Ghasil told her that God’s messenger was commanded to perform ablution for every prayer whether in a state of purity or not; but when that became a burden to God’s messenger he was commanded to use the tooth-stick before every time of prayer, and the performance of ablution was remitted to him unless his state of purity had been broken. He said that ‘Abdallah considered that he had power to do that, so he did it up to the time of his death. Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As said that the Prophet came upon Sa'd when he was performing ablution and asked, “What is the meaning of this extravagance, Sa'd?” He replied, “Is there extravagance in ablution?” He said, “Yes, even if you are beside a flowing river.’’ Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira, Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “He who performs ablution and mentions God’s name purifies his whole body, but he who performs ablution and does not mention God’s name is pure only where the ablution reached.”

Abu Rafi‘ said that when God’s messenger performed ablution he moved his ring on his finger. Daraqutni transmitted the two traditions and Ibn Majah transmitted the second.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "If one lies on his wife and compresses her, washing is necessary, even if he does not insert his penis.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "Water is necessary only when there is an emission.” Muslim transmitted it. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this is abrogated.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that "Water is necessary only when there is an emission” applies to a dream. Tirmidhi transmitted it, but I have not found it in the two Sahihs.

Umm Salama told how Umm Sulaim said, "Messenger of God, God is not ashamed of the truth. Is any washing necessary for a woman when she has a sexual dream?” He replied, "Yes, when she sees signs of liquid.” Umm Salama then covered her face and said, "Messenger of God, does a woman have sexual dreams?” He replied, "Of course she does. In what way does her child resemble her?” (Bukhari and Muslim.) Muslim added in the version of Umm Sulaim, "The man’s liquid is coarse and white, the woman’s fine and yellow, so the resemblance comes from the one which prevails or comes first.”

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger washed because of a seminal emission he first washed his hands, then performed ablution as he did for prayer, then put his fingers into the water and moved them through the roots of his hair, then poured three handfuls on his head with both hands, then poured the water over all his skin. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he first washed his hands before putting them into the vessel, then poured water over his left hand with his right hand, then washed his private parts, after which he performed ablution.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported Maimuna as saying, "I set out water for the Prophet to wash and concealed him with a garment. He poured water on his hands and washed them, then poured water with his right hand over his left, then washed his private parts, then put his hand on the ground and wiped it. He then washed it, rinsed his mouth, snuffed up water, washed his face and forearms, then poured water over his head and emptied it out over his body, after which he moved aside and washed his feet. I handed him a garment, but he did not take it; he went off shaking his hands." (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)

‘A'isha said that a woman of the Ansar asked the Prophet about washing after menstruation and he instructed her how to do it, saying, “Take a piece of cotton with musk and purify yourself with it.” She asked how she should do this, and he replied, “Purify yourself with it.” She asked again how she should do this and he replied, “Praise be to God! Purify yourself with it.” ‘A'isha then drew her aside and said, “Go over the mark of the blood with it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm Salama said she told God’s messenger that she kept her hair closely plaited, and asked whether she should undo it when washing after sexual defilement. He replied, “No, it is enough for you to throw three handfuls over your head, then pour water over yourself, and you will be purified.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet used to perform ablution with a mudd of water and wash with a sa‘ up to five mudds. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mu'adha reported ‘A'isha as saying, “God’s messenger and I used to wash from one vessel which stood between us, and he would get ahead of me, so that I would say, ‘Give me a chance, give me a chance.’ ” She said that they had had sexual intercourse. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha reported that when God’s messenger was asked about a man who noticed moisture but did not remember having had a dream, he said that he must wash; but when asked about a man who thought he had had a dream but noticed no moisture, he said that he did not require to wash. Umm Sulaim asked whether a woman must wash when she experienced that, and he replied, “Yes, women are of the same nature as men.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it up to “he did not require to wash.”

She also reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the parts which are circumcised pass one another washing is necessary,” adding that God’s messenger and she did that, and then washed. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “There is sexual defilement under every hair, so wash the hair and cleanse the skin.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said, “This is a gharib tradition, and al-Harith b. Wajih who is the transmitter is a shaikh one cannot trust.”

‘Ali reported God's messenger as saying, “If anyone leaves a spot on a hair which has been sexually defiled without washing it, such and such an amount of hell will have to be suffered for it.” ‘Ali said, “On that account I cut my hair; on that account I cut my hair,”* saying it three times. *Lit. "I treated my hair as an enemy." Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Darimi transmitted it, but Ahmad and Darimi did not repeat, “On that account I cut my hair.”

‘A'isha said that the Prophet did not perform ablution after washing. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

She also said that the Prophet used to wash his head with marshmallow when sexually defiled, contenting himself with that and not pouring water over it. Abu Dawud transmitted it.