Mishkat al-Masabih

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God's messenger ate a shoulder, and after wiping his hand with a cloth on which he was sitting, he got up and prayed. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Umm Salama said, “I offered the Prophet a roasted flank and he ate some of it, then rose to pray without performing ablution.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Rafi' said, “I testify that I was roasting the inside of a sheep for God’s messenger, then he prayed without performing ablution.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also said that a sheep was presented to him and he put it in the pot. God’s messenger came in and asked, “What is this, Abu Rafi'?” He replied, “It is a sheep which has been presented to us, and I have cooked it in the pot.” He said, “Hand me the foreleg, Abu Rafi‘,” and he did so. He then said, “Hand me the other foreleg,” and he did so. He then said, “Hand me the other foreleg,” whereupon Abu Rafi‘ ex­ postulated that a sheep has only two forelegs. God’s messenger replied, “If you had remained silent, you would have handed me one foreleg after another as long as you kept silence.” He then called for water, rinsed his mouth and washed the tips of his fingers, after which he got up and prayed. Later he returned to them and finding that they had cold meat, he ate some, after which he entered the mosque and prayed without touching water. Ahmad transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from Abu ‘Ubaid, but did not include the passage from “He then called for water” to the end.

Ubayy, Abu Talha and I sat and ate some meat and bread, after which I called for water to perform ablution. They asked, “Why are you performing ablution?” and I replied that it was because of this food which we had eaten. They said, “Do you perform ablution after eating things which are good? He who was better than you did not perform ablution on that account.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “A man’s kiss to his wife and his touching her with his hand are connected with sexual intercourse, and anyone who kisses his wife or touches her with his hand must perform ablution.” Malik and Shafi‘i transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud used to say, “Ablution is necessary when a man kisses his wife.” Malik transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported ‘Umar b. al-Khattab as saying, “A kiss is connected with sexual intercourse, so perform ablution on that account.”

‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz told on the authority of Tamim ad-Dari that God’s messenger said, “Ablution must be performed on account of any flow of blood.” Daraqutni transmitted the two traditions, saying that ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz neither heard from Tamim ad-Dari nor saw him, and that Yazid b. Khalid and Yazid b. Muhammad* are unknown. *These men occur in the isnad.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported God’s messenger as saying, "When you go to the toilet neither face nor turn your back to the qibla , but turn towards the east or the west.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this tradition applies to the desert, but that in a built-up area it does not matter, on account of what is transmitted from ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar who said, "I went up to the roof of Hafsa’s house for some purpose and saw God's messenger relieving himself facing Syria, with his back to the qibla.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Salman said, “He (meaning God’s messenger) forbade us to face the qibla when easing ourselves or passing water, or to wipe ourselves with the right hand, or to wipe ourselves with less than three stones, or to wipe ourselves with dung or bone.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported that when God’s messenger entered the privy he used to say, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from male and female devils.”* *One might be inclined to translate this phrase as "from infidelity and act of disobedience,” but the tradition from Zaid b. Arqam (p. 76) is very explicit, and so the translation above is probably the correct one. PT-2 (12-71.) (Bukhari and Muslim).

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet came upon two graves and said, "Their occupants are being punished, but not for a great sin. One of them did not keep himself from being defiled by urine. (A version by Muslim has "did not keep himself undefiled by urine”.) The other went about spreading slander.” He then took a fresh palm branch, split it in two parts, and planted one on each grave. On being asked why he did this, he said, "Perhaps their punishment may be mitigated as long as they remain fresh.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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.