Sunan Abu Dawud #185
Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، وَأَيُّوبُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الرَّقِّيُّ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْحِمْصِيُّ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، - قَالَ هِلاَلٌ لاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ . وَقَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَعَمْرٌو أُرَاهُ - عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِغُلاَمٍ وَهُوَ يَسْلُخُ شَاةً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَنَحَّ حَتَّى أُرِيَكَ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ الْجِلْدِ وَاللَّحْمِ فَدَحَسَ بِهَا حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ إِلَى الإِبْطِ ثُمَّ مَضَى فَصَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ زَادَ عَمْرٌو فِي حَدِيثِهِ - يَعْنِي - لَمْ يَمَسَّ مَاءً . وَقَالَ عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الرَّمْلِيِّ وَرَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ هِلاَلٍ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً لَمْ يَذْكُرَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ .
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a boy who was skinning a goat. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Give it up until I show you. He (the Prophet) inserted his hand between the skin and the flesh until it reached the armpit. He then went away and led the people in prayer and he did not perform ablution. The version of Amr added that he did not touch water.
Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated though another chain of transmitters, making no mention of Abu Sa'id.
Narrated by Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
Context
In this hadith narrated by AbuSa'id al-Khudri, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrates that he can lead prayer without performing ablution after touching a goat. This incident illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) understanding of purity and the flexibility within Islamic law regarding cleanliness.
Modern Application
Today, this hadith reassures many Muslims that the act of leading prayer can be done under various circumstances, emphasizing the importance of intention and faith over strict ritualistic adherence. It encourages believers to focus on their connection with Allah during prayer.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Purification (Wudu/Taharah) because it discusses the conditions under which prayer can be performed and the Prophet's (ﷺ) approach to purification.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌۭ لَّا ذَلُولٌۭ تُثِيرُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِى ٱلْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌۭ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ جِئْتَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ
He said, "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.' " They said, "Now you have come with the truth." So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ
Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍۢ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قَدَرًۭا مَّقْدُورًا
There is not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allah has imposed upon him. [This is] the established way of Allah with those [prophets] who have passed on before. And ever is the command of Allah a destiny decreed.
Common Words
161 total105 unique37 repeated
أو6x
ٱلله6x
من5x
ٱلذين3x
إلى3x
وأيديكم3x
وإن3x
كنتم3x
على3x
ما3x
لا3x
يأيها2x
ءامنوا2x
ٱلصلوة2x
جنبا2x
مرضى2x
سفر2x
جاء2x
أحد2x
منكم2x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #185 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:.