Book 3: Purification

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “The key of paradise is prayer, and the key of prayer is being purified." Ahmad transmitted it.

Shabib b. Abu Rauh reported on the authority of one of the companions of God’s messenger that God’s messenger prayed the morning prayer and recited Ar-Rum*, but became confused about it. When he finished the prayer he said, “What is the matter with people who pray along with us without performing the purification properly? It is only those who cause us confusion about the Qur’an.” *Qur’an, xxx. Nasa’i transmitted it.

A man of the B. Sulaim said: God's messenger counted them in my hand, or in his hand, saying, “The glorifying of God is half the scale, ‘Praise be to God’ fills it, ‘God is most great’ fills the space between heaven and earth, fasting is the half of endurance, and being purified is half of faith.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said that this is a hasan tradition.

‘Abdallah as-Sunabihi reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a believer performs ablution, then rinses his mouth, the sins go out from his mouth; when he snuffs up water, the sins go out from his nose; when he washes his face, the sins go out from his face so that they go out from under his eyelashes; when he washes his hands, the sins go out from his hands so that they go out from under his fingernails; when he wipes his head, the sins go out from his head so that they go out from his ears; and when he washes his feet, the sins go out from his feet so that they go out from under his toenails. Then his walking to the mosque and his prayer will provide extra blessings for him.” Malik and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told of God’s messenger coming to the cemetery and saying, “Peace be upon you, believing ones, and if God will we shall join you. I wish we had seen our brethren.” He was asked, “Are we not your brethren, messenger of God?” and replied, “You are my companions; our brethren are those who have not yet been born.” They asked, “How will you recognise those members of your people who have not yet been born, messenger of God?” He said, “Tell me; supposing a man had horses with white blazes and white marks on their legs among horses which were pure black, would he not recognise his own horses?” They replied, “Certainly, messenger of God.” He said, “They will come with white faces and arms and legs owing to ablution, and I will arrive at the Tank before them.” Muslim transmitted it.

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.