Sahih al-Bukhari, 155

sahih

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I followed the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was going out to answer the call of nature. He used not to look this way or that. So, when I approached near him he said to me, "Fetch for me some stones for ' cleaning the privates parts (or said something similar), and do not bring a bone or a piece of dung." So I brought the stones in the corner of my garment and placed them by his side and I then went away from him. When he finished (from answering the call of nature) he used, them .

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَكِّيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْمَكِّيُّ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ اتَّبَعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَخَرَجَ لِحَاجَتِهِ، فَكَانَ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ ‏

‏ ابْغِنِي أَحْجَارًا أَسْتَنْفِضْ بِهَا ـ أَوْ نَحْوَهُ ـ وَلاَ تَأْتِنِي بِعَظْمٍ وَلاَ رَوْثٍ ‏

‏‏.‏ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِأَحْجَارٍ بِطَرَفِ ثِيَابِي فَوَضَعْتُهَا إِلَى جَنْبِهِ وَأَعْرَضْتُ عَنْهُ، فَلَمَّا قَضَى أَتْبَعَهُ بِهِنَّ‏.‏

Isnad

4 transmitters

Ahmed bin Muhammad al-Azruqi 'Amr bin Yahya bin Sa'id bin 'Amr Sa'id bin 'Amr bin Sa'id bin al-Aas Abu Hurairah

References2 variants

In-Book Reference: Book 4, Hadith 21
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 157 (deprecated numbering scheme)

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to follow the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and stay close to him, in order to learn about their religion from him. In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he walked behind the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), following him, when he was going out to relieve himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not usually look to his right and left when walking. Then Abu Hurayrah came close to him, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) noticed that he was there, so he asked him to find him some clean pebbles with which to purify himself and remove the traces of impurity (najasah) that were left after urinating or defecating. Then he said to him: “But do not bring me any bone or piece of dung”; they cannot be used to clean oneself, because bones are the food of our brethren among the jinn, as is mentioned in a report narrated by al-Bukhari, so they should not be contaminated with impurities. The word translated here as dung refers to the dried droppings of animals and it is not pure (tahir). So Abu Hurayrah collected the pebbles in the hem of his garment, then placed them beside the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and he did not look at him in this situation. This highlights the etiquette of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that he had learned from the Prophet’s teachings. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) finished relieving himself, he used those pebbles to remove the traces of impurity, until he was clean. In this hadith, we see that one may use pebbles to clean oneself after relieving oneself (istinja’), and it is forbidden to use bones or dried dung. It indicates that one may help the person who is relieving himself by looking for pebbles for him. The report indicates that one should respond to anyone who asks for help, if one is able to help. It indicates that it is prescribed to follow prominent people and scholars, even if they do not instruct you to do that. It indicates that a leader may give tasks to some of his followers. .