Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Umama mentioned how God’s messenger performed ablution, saying that he used to wipe the corners of his eyes, and he said that the ears are treated as part of the head. Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and the last two mentioned that Hammad said he did not know whether “the ears are treated as part of the head” belongs to what Abu Umama said, or to what God’s messenger said.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, quoting his father on the authority of his grandfather, said that a nomadic Arab came to the Prophet and asked him about ablution. He demonstrated it, performing each detail three times and then said, “This is how ablution should be performed. If anyone does more than this, he has done wrong, transgressed, and done wickedly.” Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted something to the same effect.

‘Abdallah b. al-Mughaffal on hearing his son say, “O God, I ask Thee for the white palace on the right of paradise,” said, “Sonny, ask God for paradise and seek refuge in Him from hell, for I heard God’s Messenger say, ‘There will be some among this people who will go over the score in ablution and supplication.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ubayy b. Ka‘b reported the Prophet as saying, “Ablution has a devil called al-Walahan, so guard against the confusion caused by water.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said, “This is a gharib tradition whose isnad is not considered by traditionists to be strong, because we know of no one but Kharija who traced it to the Prophet, and in the opinion of our school he is not strong.”

Mu'adh b. Jabal said that he saw God’s messenger wiping his face with the hem of his garment when he performed ablution. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger had a cloth with which he dried his limbs after ablution. Tirmidhi who transmitted it said, “This is a tradition which is not of value, and Abu Mu'adh the transmitter is considered by traditionists to be weak.”

Thabit b. Abu Safiya said that he asked Abu Ja'far, i.e. Muhammad al-Baqir, whether Jabir had told him that the Prophet performed the details of ablution sometimes once each, sometimes twice, and sometimes thrice, and he replied that he had. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Zaid said that God’s messenger performed the details of ablution twice each, and said, “It was a light upon a light.”

‘Uthman said that God’s messenger performed each detail of ablution three times and then said, “This is how I perform ablution, how the prophets before me performed it, and how Abraham performed it.” Razin transmitted these two traditions, but in his commentary on Muslim Nawawi declared the second to be weak.

Anas said that God’s messenger used to perform ablution for every prayer, but that they made the ablution serve as long as they did nothing which broke the state of ceremonial purity. Darimi transmitted it.

Muhammad b. Yahya b. Hibban said that he asked ‘Ubaidallah b. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar from whom ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar got the practice of performing ablution for every prayer whether he was in a state of purity or not, and he replied that Asma’ daughter of Zaid b. al-Khattab told him that ‘Abdallah b. Hanzala b. Abu ‘Amir al-Ghasil told her that God’s messenger was commanded to perform ablution for every prayer whether in a state of purity or not; but when that became a burden to God’s messenger he was commanded to use the tooth-stick before every time of prayer, and the performance of ablution was remitted to him unless his state of purity had been broken. He said that ‘Abdallah considered that he had power to do that, so he did it up to the time of his death. Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As said that the Prophet came upon Sa'd when he was performing ablution and asked, “What is the meaning of this extravagance, Sa'd?” He replied, “Is there extravagance in ablution?” He said, “Yes, even if you are beside a flowing river.’’ Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira, Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “He who performs ablution and mentions God’s name purifies his whole body, but he who performs ablution and does not mention God’s name is pure only where the ablution reached.”

Abu Rafi‘ said that when God’s messenger performed ablution he moved his ring on his finger. Daraqutni transmitted the two traditions and Ibn Majah transmitted the second.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "If one lies on his wife and compresses her, washing is necessary, even if he does not insert his penis.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "Water is necessary only when there is an emission.” Muslim transmitted it. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this is abrogated.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that "Water is necessary only when there is an emission” applies to a dream. Tirmidhi transmitted it, but I have not found it in the two Sahihs.

Umm Salama told how Umm Sulaim said, "Messenger of God, God is not ashamed of the truth. Is any washing necessary for a woman when she has a sexual dream?” He replied, "Yes, when she sees signs of liquid.” Umm Salama then covered her face and said, "Messenger of God, does a woman have sexual dreams?” He replied, "Of course she does. In what way does her child resemble her?” (Bukhari and Muslim.) Muslim added in the version of Umm Sulaim, "The man’s liquid is coarse and white, the woman’s fine and yellow, so the resemblance comes from the one which prevails or comes first.”

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger washed because of a seminal emission he first washed his hands, then performed ablution as he did for prayer, then put his fingers into the water and moved them through the roots of his hair, then poured three handfuls on his head with both hands, then poured the water over all his skin. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he first washed his hands before putting them into the vessel, then poured water over his left hand with his right hand, then washed his private parts, after which he performed ablution.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported Maimuna as saying, "I set out water for the Prophet to wash and concealed him with a garment. He poured water on his hands and washed them, then poured water with his right hand over his left, then washed his private parts, then put his hand on the ground and wiped it. He then washed it, rinsed his mouth, snuffed up water, washed his face and forearms, then poured water over his head and emptied it out over his body, after which he moved aside and washed his feet. I handed him a garment, but he did not take it; he went off shaking his hands." (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)