CHAPTER: THE MERIT OF WUDU AND THAT OF PRAYER AFTER IT
No. 438
Humran. the freed slave of 'Uthman. said: I heard from 'Uthman b. 'Affan and he was in the courtyard of the mosque, when the Mu'adhdhin (announcer of the prayer) came to him at the time of afternoon prayer. So the ('Uthman) called for the ablution water and performed ablution and then said: By Allaah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there were not a verse in the Book of Allaah, I would have never narrated it to you. I heard Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: If a Muslim performs ablution and does it well and offers prayer, all his (sins) daring the period from one prayer to another would be pardoned by Allaah.
This hadith is also narrated on the authority with the same chain of transmitters and in the hadith of Abu Usama the words are:" He who performed the ablution well and then offered the obligatory prayer."
Humran reported when 'Uthman performed ablution he said: By Allaah, I am narrating to you a hadith had there not been this verse in the Book of Allaah. I would not have narrated it to you. Verily I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: Not a person is there who performed ablution, and did it well, then offered prayer, but his sins (which he committed) were not pardoned between the prayer that he offered and the next one. 'Urwa said: The verse is this:" Those who suppress the clear proofs and the guidance which We have sent down"... to His words:" the Cursers" (ii. 15).
'Amr b Sa'id b al-As reported: I was, with Uthman that he called for ablution water and said: I heard Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: When the time for a prescribed prayer comees, if any Muslim perform ablution well and offers his prayer) with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies to for all times.
Humran, the freed slave of 'Uthman reported: I brought for Uthman b. 'Affan the ablution water. He performed ablution and then said: Verily the people narrate from the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) a hadith. I do not know what these are. but (I know this fact) that I saw the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) perform ablution like this ablution of mine and then he said: He who performed ablution like this, all his previous sins would be expiated and his prayer and going towards the mosque would have an extra reward. In the tradition narrated by Ibn 'Abda (the words are):" I came to Uthman and he performed ablution."
Abu Anas reported that Uthman performed ablution at Maqi'aid and said: Should I not show you the ablution performed by Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)? And he then washed (the different parts of the body) three times. 4" Qutaiba has added in his narration the words:" There were with him (with Uthman) Companions of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)."
Humran b. Abin reported: I used to fetch water for 'Uthman for his purification. Never was there a day that he did not take a bath with a small quantity of water. And Uthman said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) at the time of our returning from our prayer told us (certain things pertaining to purification). Mis'ar said: I find that it was afternoon prayer. He said: I do not know whether I should tell you a thing or keep quiet. We said: Messenger of Allaah, tell us if it is good and if it is otherwise, Allaah and His Prophet know better. Upon this he said: A Muslim who purifies (himself) and completes purification as enjoined upon him by Allaah and then offers the prayers, that will be expiatious (of his sins he committed) between these (prayers).
Jami' b. Shaddad reported: I heard Humran b. Aban narrate to Abu Burda in this very mosque during the governorship of Bishr that 'Uthman b. Alfan said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) observed: He who completed ablution as Allaah, the Exalted, enjoined upon him, his obligatory prayers would be explatious (for his minor sins that he would commit) during (the interval) between them. This hadith is transmitted by Ibn Mu'adh, and in the hadith narrated by Ghundar, the words" during the governorship of Bishr" are omitted and there is no mention of the obligatory prayers.
Humran, the freed slave of Uthman reported: One day Uthman b. Affan performed the ablution well, and then said: I saw Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) perform ablution, the best ablution, and then observed: He who performed ablution like this and then went towards the mosque and nothing (but the love of) prayer urged him (to do so), all his previous (minor) sins would be expiated.
Humran, the freed slave of 'Uthman b. 'Affan, reported on the authority of 'Uthman b. 'Affan that he heard Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: He who performed ablution for prayer and performed it properly and then went (to observe) obligatory prayer and offered it along with people or with the congregation or in the mosque, Allaah would pardon his sins.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed.
Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allaah (way sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Five prayers and one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer are expiatious (for the sins committed in the intervals) between them.
Abu Huraira reported: Verily the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiatious for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins.
'Uqba b. 'Amir reported: We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels. On my turn when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his: If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak'ahs setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise would be guaranteed to him. I said: What a fine thing is this! And a narrator who was before me said: The first was better than even this. When I cast a glance, I saw that it was 'Umair who said: I see that you have just come and observed: If anyone amongst you performs the ablution, and then completes the ablution well and then says: I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allaah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allaah and His Messenger, the eight gates of Paradise would be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.
Uqba b. 'Amir al-Juhani reported: Verily the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said and then narrated (the hadith) like one (mentioned above) except (this) that he said: He who performed ablution and said: I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allaah, the One, there is no associate with Him and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
'Abdullah b. Zaid b. 'Asim al-Ansari, who was a Companion (of the Prophet), reported: It was said to him (by people): Perform for us the ablution (as it was performed) by the Messenger of Allaah (way sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). He ('Abdullah b. Zaid) called for a vessel (of water), and poured water from it on his hands and washed them three times. Then he inserted his hand (in the vessel) and brought it (water) out, rinsed his mouth and snuffed up water from the palm of one hand doing that three times, He again inserted his hand and brought it out and washed his face three times, then inserted his hand and brought it out and washed each arm up to the elbow twice, then inserted his hand and brought it out and wiped his head both front and back with his hands. He then washed his feet up to the ankles, and then said: This is how God's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) performed ablution.
Malik b. Anas narrated it from 'Amr b. Yahya with the same chain of transmitters, transmitters and mentioned the rinsing (of mouth) and snuffing (of water into the nostrils) three times, but he did not mention" from one palm," and made this addition: He moved them (his hands) for wiping to the front of his head and then the nape of his neck, then bringing them back till he reached the place from which he had begun, after which he washed his feet.
Babz reported: This hadith has been narrated by Wuwb on the authority of 'Amr b. Yahyi with the same chain of transmitters and it has been mentioned therein: He rinsed his mouth. snuffed up water in nostrils and cleaned the nose with three handfuls and wiped his head moving (his hand) in front and then back once. Bahz said: Wuhaib narrated this hadith to me and Wuhaib said: Amr b. Yahya narrated to me this hadith twice.
'Abdullah b. Zaid b. 'Asim al-Mazini reported: He saw Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) perform the ablution. He rinsed his mouth then cleaned his nose, then washed his face three times, then washed his right hand thrice and then the other one, thrice. He then took fresh water and wiped his head and then washed his feet till he cleaned them.