Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 884
sahih

Narrated Tawus:

I said to Ibn `Abbas, "The people are narrating that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Take a bath on Friday and wash your heads (i.e. take a thorough bath) even though you were not Junub and use perfume'." On that Ibn `Abbas replied, "I know about the bath, (i.e. it is essential) but I do not know about the perfume (i.e. whether it is essential or not.)

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ طَاوُسٌ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ذَكَرُوا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

‏ اغْتَسِلُوا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَاغْسِلُوا رُءُوسَكُمْ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا جُنُبًا، وَأَصِيبُوا مِنَ الطِّيبِ ‏

‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَمَّا الْغُسْلُ فَنَعَمْ، وَأَمَّا الطِّيبُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 11, Hadith 9
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 9 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Islam is a religion of cleanliness and beauty, and it encourages both. In this hadith, Tawus ibn Kaysan – who was one of the Tabi‘in – narrates that he told ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that some people were narrating a hadith from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), which was: “Do ghusl on Friday and wash your heads, even if you are not junub, and put on perfume.” Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: As for ghusl, then yes; as for perfume, I do not know. It is known that the one who does ghusl will wash his head, so the words “and wash your heads” are a confirmation of the words “Do ghusl”, by way of mentioning something specific after mentioning something general, for emphasis and to point out that what is required is complete ghusl, lest anyone think that pouring water over the body without pouring it over the hair and making it reach the scalp is good enough for ghusl on Friday. The words “even if you are not junub” confirm that the command to do ghusl on Friday is not only for those who are junub. The words of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), “As for ghusl, then yes; as for perfume, I do not know” mean: As for ghusl, I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); as for perfume, I did not hear about it from him. The fact that Ibn ‘Abbas had not heard anything about putting on perfume on Friday does not mean that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not say it. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated what he heard. But others heard it. In Sahih al-Bukhari it is narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said concerning the etiquette of Jumu‘ah: “…and put on perfume if it is available.” This hadith indicates that it is forbidden to issue a fatwa without knowledge. Here we see Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) – despite his high status and lofty position among the Sahabah – saying, I do not know. So no one should feel too embarrassed to say, when he does not know something, I do not know. This hadith indicates that we are urged to do ghusl on Friday. It indicates that it is encouraged to put on perfume when attending Jumu‘ah prayer..
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