3. Purification

وَعَن سلمَان قَالَ قَالَ لَهُ بعض الْمُشْركين وَهُوَ يستهزئ بِهِ إِنِّي لأرى صَاحبكُم يعلمكم كل شَيْء حَتَّى الخراءة قَالَ أَجَلْ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ لَا نَسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَلَا نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِأَيْمَانِنَا وَلَا نَكْتَفِيَ بِدُونِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْجَارٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا رَجِيعٌ وَلَا عَظْمٌ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَأحمد وَاللَّفْظ لَهُ

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.

وَعَن عبد الرَّحْمَن بن حَسَنَةَ قَالَ: " خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَفِي يَده كَهَيئَةِ الدَّرَقَةُ فَوَضَعَهَا ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَبَالَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: انْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ يَبُولُ كَمَا تَبُولُ الْمَرْأَةُ فَسَمعهُ فَقَالَ أَو مَا عَلِمْتَ مَا أَصَابَ صَاحِبَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانُوا إِذا أَصَابَهُم شَيْء من الْبَوْلُ قَرَضُوهُ بِالْمَقَارِيضِ فَنَهَاهُمْ فَعُذِّبَ فِي قَبْرِهِ ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ ورواه النسائي عنه عن أبي موسى

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.

عَن مَرْوَان الْأَصْفَر قَالَ: «رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ يَبُولُ إِلَيْهَا فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ نُهِيَ عَنْ هَذَا قَالَ بلَى إِنَّمَا نُهِيَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فِي الْفَضَاءِ فَإِذَا كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ شَيْءٌ يَسْتُرُكَ فَلَا بَأْس» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنَ الْخَلَاءِ قَالَ: «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنِّي الْأَذَى وَعَافَانِي» . رَوَاهُ أبن مَاجَه

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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: " لَمَّا قَدِمَ وَفْدُ الْجِنِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ انْهَ أُمَّتَكَ أَنْ يَسْتَنْجُوا بِعَظْمٍ أَوْ رَوْثَةٍ أَوْ حُمَمَةٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَ لَنَا فِيهَا رِزْقًا فَنَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِتَأْخِيرِ الْعشَاء وبالسواك عِنْد كل صَلَاة»

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.)

وَعَن شُرَيْح بن هَانِئ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ: بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ يَبْدَأُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دخل بَيته؟ قَالَت: بِالسِّوَاكِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

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.

وَعَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ لِلتَّهَجُّدِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ

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

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " عَشْرَ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ: قَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَإِعْفَاءُ اللِّحْيَةِ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَاسْتِنْشَاقُ الْمَاءِ وَقَصُّ الْأَظْفَارِ وَغَسْلُ الْبَرَاجِمِ وَنَتْفُ الْإِبِطِ وَحَلْقُ الْعَانَةِ وَانْتِقَاصُ الْمَاءِ) يَعْنِي الِاسْتِنْجَاءَ - قَالَ الرَّاوِي: ونسيت الْعَاشِرَة إِلَّا أَن تكون الْمَضْمَضَة. رَوَاهُ مُسلم وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ «الْخِتَانُ» بَدَلَ «إِعْفَاءُ اللِّحْيَةِ» لَمْ أَجِدْ هَذِهِ الرِّوَايَةَ فِي «الصَّحِيحَيْنِ» وَلَا فِي كِتَابِ الْحُمَيْدِيِّ وَلَكِنْ ذَكَرَهَا صَاحِبُ «الْجَامِعِ» وَكَذَا الْخطابِيّ فِي «معالم السّنَن» : عَن أبي دَاوُد بِرِوَايَة عمار بن يَاسر

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.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ» . رَوَاهُ الشَّافِعِيُّ وَأَحْمَدُ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَرَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ فِي صَحِيحه بِلَا إِسْنَاد

‘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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " أَرْبَعٌ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ: الْحَيَاءُ وَيُرْوَى الْخِتَانُ وَالتَّعَطُّرُ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَالنِّكَاحُ ". رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

modesty (but some say circumcision), the use of perfume, the use of the tooth-stick, and marriage.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرْقُدُ مِنْ لَيْلٍ وَلَا نَهَارٍ فَيَسْتَيْقِظُ إِلَّا يَتَسَوَّكُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَأَبُو دَاوُد

‘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.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَاكُ فَيُعْطِينِي السِّوَاكَ لِأَغْسِلَهُ فَأَبْدَأُ بِهِ فَأَسْتَاكُ ثُمَّ أَغْسِلُهُ وَأَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

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.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " أَرَانِي فِي الْمَنَامِ أَتَسَوَّكُ بِسِوَاكٍ فَجَاءَنِي رَجُلَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْآخَرِ فَنَاوَلْتُ السِّوَاكَ الْأَصْغَرَ مِنْهُمَا فَقِيلَ لي: كبر فَدَفَعته إِلَى الْأَكْبَر مِنْهُمَا "

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.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَا جَاءَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَطُّ إِلَّا أَمَرَنِي بِالسِّوَاكِ لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ أُحْفِيَ مُقَدِّمَ فِيَّ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ

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.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَقَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاك» رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have said much to you about the tooth-stick.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَنُّ وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْآخَرِ فَأُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ فِي فَضْلِ السِّوَاكِ أَنْ كَبِّرْ أَعْطِ السِّوَاك أكبرهما. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘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.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَفْضُلُ الصَّلَاةُ الَّتِي يُسْتَاكُ لَهَا عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ الَّتِي لَا يُسْتَاكُ لَهَا سَبْعِينَ ضعفا» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَلَأَخَّرْتُ صَلَاةَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ» قَالَ فَكَانَ زَيْدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ يَشْهَدُ الصَّلَوَاتِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَسِوَاكُهُ عَلَى أُذُنِهِ مَوْضِعَ الْقَلَمِ مِنْ أُذُنِ الْكَاتِبِ لَا يَقُومُ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ إِلَّا اسْتَنَّ ثُمَّ رَدَّهُ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ: «وَلَأَخَّرْتُ صَلَاةَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ» . وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حسن صَحِيح

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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ نَوْمِهِ فَلَا يَغْمِسْ يَدَهُ فِي الْإِنَاءِ حَتَّى يَغْسِلَهَا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي أَيْنَ بَاتَتْ يَدُهُ»

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.)