Worship and the Pillars

‘A’isha said that the Prophet used to kiss one of his wives and then pray without performing ablution. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi said, “The isnad ‘Urwa from ‘A'isha is in no way sound in the opinion of our friends,* and the same applies to the isnad Ibrahim at-Taimi from her.” Abu Dawud said that this is mursal and that Ibrahim at-Taimi never heard from ‘A'isha. *This must apply to this particular tradition, as ‘Urwa is a recognised transmitter from ‘A'isha

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.

Anas b. Malik said: 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.