Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Darda’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “I shall be the first to be permitted to prostrate himself on the day of resurrection, and I shall be the first to be permitted to raise his head. I shall then look at what is in front of me and recognise my people among the peoples; and I shall do the same behind me, on my right hand and on my left.” A man asked, “How will you recognise your people among the peoples from Noah’s time onwards?” and he replied, “They will have white faces, arms and legs owing to the mark of ablution, no others being like that. I shall recognise them because they will be given their books in their right hands, and I shall recognise them with their offspring running before them.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “The prayer of one who has voided excrement will not be accepted until he performs ablution.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Prayer without purification is not accepted, neither is sadaqa from the profits of un­ faithful dealing.” Muslim transmitted it.

My prostatic fluid flowed readily, and I was ashamed to consult the Prophet because of the position of his daughter so I gave orders to al-Miqdad to consult him, and the Prophet said, “He must wash his penis and perform ablution.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that he heard God’s messenger say, “Perform ablution because of anything which has been touched by fire.” Muslim transmitted it. The illustrious shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this is abrogated by the tradition of Ibn ‘Abbas who said that God’s messenger ate a shoulder of mutton, then prayed without performing ablution. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura said that a man asked God’s messenger whether they should perform ablution after eating mutton and he replied, “You may perform ablution or not, as you wish.” He asked if they should perform ablution after eating camel flesh and he replied, “Yes, perform ablution after eating camel flesh.” He then asked whether he might say prayers in sheepfolds and he replied, “Yes”; but when he asked whether he might say prayers in places where camels lie down, he replied, “No.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any of you has a pain in his abdomen, but is doubtful whether or not anything has issued from him, he should not leave the mosque unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger drank some milk and rinsed his mouth saying, “It contains greasiness.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Buraida said that God’s messenger prayed the prayers on the day of the Conquest with one ablution and wiped over his shoes. ‘Umar said, “You have done something today that you have not been accustomed to do.” He replied, “I have done it purposely, ‘Umar.” Muslim transmitted it.

Suwaid b. an-Nu‘man said that he went out with God’s messenger in the year of Khaibar , and when they were at as-Sahba’ which is very near Khaibar, he prayed the afternoon prayer. He then called for food, and when only some flour was produced, he ordered it to be moistened; then God’s messenger and the company ate. After that he got up to pray the sunset prayer, and when he and the company had rinsed their mouths he prayed without performing ablution. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “No ablution is necessary except when one makes a sound or breaks wind.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I asked the Prophet about prostatic fluid and he replied, “For prostatic fluid ablution is necessary, but for seminal emission washing.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He also reported God's messenger as saying, “The key of prayer is purification, saying ‘God is most great’ makes it a sacred state, and the salutation brings the sacred state to an end.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it both from 'Ali and from Abu Sa'id.

‘Ali b. Talq reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you breaks wind he should perform ablution, and you must not have intercourse with women by their buttocks.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan reported the Prophet as saying, “The eyes are the leather strap of the anus, and when the eye sleeps the leather strap is loosened.” Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ali reported God's messenger as saying, “The leather strap of the anus is the eyes, so one who sleeps should perform ablution. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and the shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this does not refer to one who is sitting because of the sound tradition from Anas who said that the Companions of God’s messenger dozed while waiting for nightfall, then prayed without performing ablution. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi said “they slept” instead of saying that they “dozed while waiting for nightfall.”

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ablution is necessary for one who sleeps lying down, for when he lies down his joints are relaxed.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Busra daughter of Safwan b. Naufal reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any of you touches his penis he must perform ablution.” Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Talq b. ‘Ali said that God’s messenger was asked about a man touching his penis after performing ablution, and replied, “What is it but a part of him?” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this is abrogated because Abu Huraira accepted Islam after Talq came, and Abu Huraira has transmitted from God’s messenger the saying, “If anyone touches his penis with his hand, nothing coming between them, he must perform ablution.” Shafi‘i and Daraqutni transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted it from Busra, but did not include “nothing between them.”

‘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