Hadith #569

Arabic Text

English Translation

Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us, al-Aʿmash narrated to us, from Shaqīq, who said: I was sitting with Abū Mūsā and ʿAbdullāh [ibn Masʿūd]. Abū Mūsā said: 'O Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, if a man becomes junub and cannot find water for a month — would he do tayammum?' He said: 'No, even if he cannot find water for a month.' Abū Mūsā said to him: 'Then what do you do with this verse in Sūrat al-Māʾidah: {If you do not find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth}?' ʿAbdullāh said: 'If they were given this concession, they would soon do tayammum when cold water bothers them.' Abū Mūsā said: 'Is that the only reason you dislike it?' He said: 'Yes.' Abū Mūsā said: 'Did you not hear ʿAmmār's words: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me on an errand and I became junub but could not find water. I rolled in the earth like an animal. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and mentioned that to him. He said: It would have sufficed you to do this — and he struck the ground with his hand, then wiped each one with the other, then wiped his face with them.' Al-Aʿmash did not go beyond the palms. ʿAbdullāh said: 'Did you not claim...' — he was not satisfied with ʿAmmār's statement. Abū Muʿāwiyah said another time: He struck the ground with his hand, then shook it off, then struck his left on his right and his right on his left — on the palms — then wiped his face.