Mishkat al-Masabih

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.)

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.