Sunan Abu Dawud #231
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 مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، وَبِشْرٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي طَرِيقٍ مِنْ طُرُقِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَنَا جُنُبٌ فَاخْتَنَسْتُ فَذَهَبْتُ فَاغْتَسَلْتُ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ فَقَالَ " أَيْنَ كُنْتَ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ جُنُبًا فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُجَالِسَكَ عَلَى غَيْرِ طَهَارَةٍ . فَقَالَ " سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ لاَ يَنْجُسُ " . وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ بِشْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ حَدَّثَنِي بَكْرٌ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) met me on one of the streets of medina while I was sexually defiled. I retreated and went away. I then took a bath and came to him. He asked : Where were you, O Abu Hurairah? I replied : As I was sexually defiled, I disliked to sit in your company without purification. He exclaimed: Glory be to Allah! A Muslim is not defiled.
He (Abu Dawud) said : The version of this tradition reported by Bishr has the chain: Humaid reported from Bakr.
Narrated by Abu Hudhaifah reported :
Context
Abu Hurairah narrates an encounter with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) while he was in a state of defilement. The Prophet's response highlights the understanding that a Muslim is not inherently impure, emphasizing the importance of intention and the state of one's heart over physical cleanliness alone. This hadith encourages a deeper understanding of purity in Islam.
Modern Application
This hadith encourages us to focus on our intentions and spiritual state rather than just physical cleanliness. It reminds us that our worth as Muslims is not diminished by temporary states of impurity, but rather by our commitment to seeking closeness to Allah.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community and Purification (Wudu/Taharah) because it emphasizes the communal aspect of purity and the understanding that Muslims maintain their dignity regardless of their physical state.
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سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
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 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
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ
But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified
سُورَةُ البَيِّنَةِ
Al-Bayyina (The Evidence)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
رَسُولٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًۭا مُّطَهَّرَةًۭ
A Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures
Common Words
146 total94 unique36 repeated
أو6x
من5x
ٱلله5x
ٱلنساء3x
حتى3x
وإن3x
كنتم3x
وأيديكم3x
إلى3x
ٱلمحيض2x
ولا2x
إن2x
يأيها2x
ٱلذين2x
ءامنوا2x
ٱلصلوة2x
ما2x
جنبا2x
مرضى2x
على2x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #231 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Hudhaifah reported :.