Worship and the Pillars

Ibn ‘Umar said that the dogs used to go here and there in the mosque in the time of God’s messenger and that they did not sprinkle any place where they had been. Bukhari transmitted it.

Shuraih b. Hani' said, “I asked ‘Ali b. Abu Talib about wiping over the shoes and he replied that God’s messenger had appointed three days and nights as the period when a traveller may do it and one day and night as the period for one who is not travelling.” Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba, telling that he had gone with God’s messenger on the expedition to Tabuk, said: God’s messenger relieved himself beside some low ground before the morning prayer, and I went with him carrying a small water-skin. When he came back I began to pour water from the skin over his hands, and he washed his hands and face. He was wearing a long-sleeved woollen gown, and tried to get his forearms out, but the sleeve of the gown was too narrow, so he brought his hands out from under the gown, and throwing it over his shoulders, he washed his forearms. Then he wiped his forelock and over his turban. I was then about to remove his shoes when he said, “Leave them, for my feet were pure when I put them in”; so he rubbed over them, and he and I mounted our beasts and came to the people. They had begun the prayer with ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf leading them, and he had performed a rak'a with them, but when he was aware of the Prophet’s presence he began to retire. The Prophet, however, signed to him to continue and performed one of the rak'as along with him. Then when he had pronounced the salutation the Prophet got up, and I got up along with him, and we performed the rak‘a which had been finished before we came. Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa reported God’s messenger as saying, “We have been made superior to mankind in three respects: our ranks are formed like those of the angels; all the earth has been appointed as a mosque for us; and our earth has been appointed for us as a means of cleansing when we do not find water.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Imran said: While we were on a journey with the Prophet he led the people in the prayer, and when he turned away after the prayer he saw a man apart who had not prayed along with the people. He asked him what had prevented him from praying along with the company, and when the man replied that he was affected by seminal defilement and had no water, he said, “Make use of earth, for it is enough for you.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abul Juhaim b. al-Harith b. as-Simma said that once when coming from the direction of Bi’r Jamal* the Prophet was met by a man who saluted him, but the Prophet did not respond to his salutation till he went towards the wall and wiped his face and his hands. Then he responded to his salutation. *A well in Medina. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you goes to the Friday prayer he should bathe.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id reported God’s messenger as saying, “Bathing on Friday is obligatory on everyone who has reached puberty.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is a duty for every Muslim to bathe once a week, washing his head and his body.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)