Worship and the Pillars

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.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Hasana said: 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.

Marwan al-Asfar said: 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.

Hudhaifa said that when the Prophet got up to pray during the night he cleansed his mouth with the tooth-stick. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ten characteristics belong to the religion of Islam: 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.

Abu Ayyub reported God’s messenger as saying, “Four characteristics pertain to the practices of the messengers: 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.