Book 2: Purification

Chapter 1: Merit of Wudu’

Abu Malik at-Ash’ari reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Cleanliness is half of faith and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fill-up what is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light, and charity is proof (of one’s faith) and endurance is a brightness and the Holy Qur’an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.

Chapter 2: Purification Is Essential for Prayer

Mus’ab b. Sa’d reported: ‘Abdullah son of Umar came to Ibn’Amir in order to inquire after his health as he was ailing. He said Ibn ‘Umar, why don’t you pray to Allah for me? He said: I heard of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: Neither the prayer is accepted without purification nor is charity accepted out of the ill-gotten (wealth), and thou wert the (governor) of Basra.

A hadith like this is narrated from the Apostle (may peace be upon him) with the same chain of transmitters by Muhammad b. Muthanna, Ibn Bashshar, Muhammad b. Ja’far, Shu’ba.

Hammam b. Munabbih who is the brother of Wahb b. Munabbih said: This is what has been transmitted to us by Abu Huraira from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and then narrated a hadith out of them and observed that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The prayer of none amongst you would be accepted in a state of impurity till he performs ablution.

Chapter 3: How to Perform Ablution

Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman, said: Uthman b. ‘Affan called for ablution water and this is how he performed the ablution. He washed his hands thrice. He then rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose with water (three times). He then washed his face three times, then washed his right arm up to the elbow three times, then washed his left arm like that, then wiped his head; then washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, then washed his left foot like that, and then said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) perform ablution like this ablution of mine. Then the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who performs ablution like this ablution of mine and then stood up (for prayer) and offered two rak’ahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins are expiated. Ibn Shihab said: Our scholars remarked: This is the most complete of the ablutions performed for prayer.

Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman said: I saw Uthman call for a vessel (of water) and poured water over his hands three times and then washed them. Then he put his right hand in the vessel and rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose. Then he washed his face three times and his hands up to the elbow three times; then wiped his head, then washed his feet three times. Then he said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: He who performed ablution like this ablution of mine and offered two rak’ahs of prayer without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, all his previous sins would be expiated.

Chapter 4: TheMerit of Wudu and that of Prayer After It

Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman said: I heard from ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan and he was in the courtyard of the mosque, when the Mu’adhdhin (announcer of the prayer) came to him at the time of afternoon prayer. So the (‘Uthman) called for the ablution water and performed ablution and then said: By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there were not a verse in the Book of Allah, I would have never narrated it to you. I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: If a Muslim performs ablution and does it well and offers prayer, all his (sins) daring the period from one prayer to another would be pardoned by Allah.

This hadith is also narrated on the authority with the same chain of transmitters and in the hadith of Abu Usama the words are: “He who performed the ablution well and then offered the obligatory prayer.”

Humran reported when ‘Uthman performed ablution he said: By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith had there not been this verse in the Book of Allah. I would not have narrated it to you. Verily I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: Not a person is there who performed ablution, and did it well, then offered prayer, but his sins (which he committed) were not pardoned between the prayer that he offered and the next one. ‘Urwa said: The verse is this: “Those who suppress the clear proofs and the guidance which We have sent down”… to His words: “the Cursers” (ii. 15).

‘Amr b Sa’id b al-As reported: I was with Uthman that he called for ablution water and said: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim perform ablution well and offers his prayer) with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies to for all times.

Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman reported: I brought for Uthman b. ‘Affan the ablution water. He performed ablution and then said: Verily the people narrate from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) a hadith. I do not know what these are, but (I know this fact) that I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) perform ablution like this ablution of mine and then he said: He who performed ablution like this, all his previous sins would be expiated and his prayer and going towards the mosque would have an extra reward. In the tradition narrated by Ibn ‘Abda (the words are): “I came to Uthman and he performed ablution.”

Abu Anas reported that Uthman performed ablution at Maqi’aid and said: Should I not show you the ablution performed by Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? And he then washed (the different parts of the body) three times.” Qutaiba has added in his narration the words: “There were with him (with Uthman) Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him).”

Humran b. Abin reported: I used to fetch water for ‘Uthman for his purification. Never was there a day that he did not take a bath with a small quantity of water. And Uthman said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) at the time of our returning from our prayer told us (certain things pertaining to purification). Mis’ar said: I find that it was afternoon prayer. He said: I do not know whether I should tell you a thing or keep quiet. We said: Messenger of Allah, tell us if it is good and if it is otherwise, Allah and His Apostle know better. Upon this he said: A Muslim who purifies (himself) and completes purification as enjoined upon him by Allah and then offers the prayers, that will be expiatious (of his sins he committed) between these (prayers).

Jami’ b. Shaddad reported: I heard Humran b. Aban narrate to Abu Burda in this very mosque during the governorship of Bishr that ‘Uthman b. Alfan said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: He who completed ablution as Allah, the Exalted, enjoined upon him, his obligatory prayers would be expiatious (for his minor sins that he would commit) during (the interval) between them. This hadith is transmitted by Ibn Mu’adh, and in the hadith narrated by Ghundar, the words “during the governorship of Bishr” are omitted and there is no mention of the obligatory prayers.

Humran, the freed slave of Uthman reported: One day Uthman b. Affan performed the ablution well, and then said: I saw Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) perform ablution, the best ablution, and then observed: He who performed ablution like this and then went towards the mosque and nothing (but the love of) prayer urged him (to do so), all his previous (minor) sins would be expiated.

Humran, the freed slave of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan, reported on the authority of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan that he heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: He who performed ablution for prayer and performed it properly and then went (to observe) obligatory prayer and offered it along with people or with the congregation or in the mosque, Allah would pardon his sins.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: Five prayers and one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer are expiatious (for the sins committed in the intervals) between them.

Abu Huraira reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiatious for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported: We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels. On my turn when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his: If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak’ahs setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise would be guaranteed to him. I said: What a fine thing is this! And a narrator who was before me said: The first was better than even this. When I cast a glance, I saw that it was ‘Umair who said: I see that you have just come and observed: If anyone amongst you performs the ablution, and then completes the ablution well and then says: I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the eight gates of Paradise would be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.

Uqba b. ‘Amir al-Juhani reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said and then narrated (the hadith) like one (mentioned above) except (this) that he said: He who performed ablution and said: I testify that there is no god but Allah, the One, there is no associate with Him and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

‘Abdullah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim al-Ansari, who was a Companion (of the Holy Prophet), reported: It was said to him (by people): Perform for us the ablution (as it was performed) by the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him). He (‘Abdullah b. Zaid) called for a vessel (of water), and poured water from it on his hands and washed them three times. Then he inserted his hand (in the vessel) and brought it (water) out, rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from the palm of one hand doing that three times, He again 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 elbow 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 then said: This is how God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) performed ablution.

This hadith is narrated by Amr b. Yahya with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of ankles.

Malik b. Anas narrated it from ‘Amr b. Yahya with the same chain of transmitters, transmitters and mentioned the rinsing (of mouth) and snuffing (of water into the nostrils) three times, but he did not mention “from one palm,” and made this addition: He moved them (his hands) for wiping to the front of his head and then 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.

Bahz reported: This hadith has been narrated by Wuhaib on the authority of ‘Amr b. Yahyi with the same chain of transmitters and it has been mentioned therein: He rinsed his mouth, snuffed up water in nostrils and cleaned the nose with three handfuls and wiped his head moving (his hand) in front and then back once. Bahz said: Wuhaib narrated this hadith to me and Wuhaib said: Amr b. Yahya narrated to me this hadith twice.

‘Abdullah b. Zaid b. ‘Asim al-Mazini reported: He saw Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) perform the ablution. He rinsed his mouth then cleaned his nose, then washed his face three times, then washed his right hand thrice and then the other one, thrice. He then took fresh water and wiped his head and then washed his feet till he cleaned them.

Chapter 5: While Cleaning the Nose and Using of Pebbles In Toilet, the Odd Number Is Preferable

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: When anyone wipes himself with pebbles (after answering the call of nature) he must make use of an odd number and when any one of you performs ablution he must snuff in his nose water and then clean it.

Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira transmitted to us from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and he mentioned a number of a hadith, of which this is one: that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When anyone amongst you (performs ablution) he must snuff his nostrils with water and then clean them.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (way peace he upon him) said: When anyone performs ablution he must clean his nose and when anyone wipes himself with pebbles (after answering the call of nature) he must do that odd number of times.

It has been transmitted by Abu Huraira and Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (both of them the reputed Companions of the Holy Prophet) that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said like that.

Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.

Jabir b. ‘Abdullah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: When anyone wipes himself with pebbles (after answering the call of nature) he should do this odd number of times.

Chapter 6: The Washing of Feet Properly Is An Integral Part of Wudu

Salim, the freed slave of Shaddad, said: I came to ‘Aisha, the wife of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him), on the day when Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas died. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakr also came there and he performed ablution in her presence. She (Hadrat ‘Aisha) said: Abd al-Rahman, complete the ablution as I heard the Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: Woe to the heels because of hell-fire.

Abdullah, the freed slave of Shahddad, came to ‘Aisha and transmitted from her a hadith like this (which she narrated) from the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

Salim, the freed slave of Mahri, reported: I and ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakr went out (in order to join) the funeral procession of Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas and passed by the door of the residence of ‘Aisha, and then he transmitted a hadith like this from her who (narrated it) from the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

Salim, the freed slave of Shaddad b. al-Had said: I was in the presence of ‘Aisha, and then narrated on her authority a hadith like this from the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

‘Abdullah b. ‘Amr reported: We returned from Mecca to Medina with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and when we came to some water on the way, some of the people were in a hurry at the time of the afternoon prayer and performed ablution hurriedly; and when we reached them, their heels were dry, no water had touched them. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Woe to (dry) heels, because of Hell-fire. Make your ablution thorough.

In the hadith transmitted by Shu’ba these words are not there: “Complete the Wudu,” and there is the name of Abu Yahya al-A’raj (a narrator).

‘Abdullah b. Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) lagged behind us on a journey. We travelled (back) and be took him; and then came the time of the afternoon prayer, and as we were going to wipe our feet he (the Holy Prophet) called out: Woe to the heels because of Hell-fire.

Abu Huraira reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saw a man who did not wash his heel and he remarked: Woe to the heels because of hell-fire.

Abu Huraira reported: He saw people perform ablution with the help of a water jar and he said: Complete the Wudu for I heard Abu al-Qasim (may peace be upon him) say: Woe to the hamstrings because of hell-fire.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Woe to the heels because of hell-fire.

Chapter 7: It Is Obligatory to Wash All Parts of the Body Necessary For Purification

Jabir reported: ‘Umar b. Khattab said that a person performed ablution and left a small part equal to the space of a nail (unwashed). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) saw that and said: Go back and perform ablution well. He then went back (performed ablution well) and offered the prayer.