Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال
Riyad as-Salihin, 635

Hadith text · Matn

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ بال أعرابى في المسجد فقام الناس إليه ليقعوا فيه، فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ “دعوه وأريقوا على بوله سجلاً من ماء، أو ذنوباً من ماء، فإنما بعثتم ميسرين ولم تبعثوا معسرين” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخارى‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

English translation

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him up. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult." <b>[Al-Bukhari]</b>.

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 635
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) It shows that a person can be excused for his ignorance, if it is difficult for him to seek knowledge; and it instructs us to teach the ignorant.<br> 2) It highlights the Prophet’s good manners and guidance in teaching the people in a gentle manner. Indeed, gentleness brings forth good, and harshness brings forth evil.<br> 3) It demonstrates the core of the Prophet’s mission: to make things easy, not difficult, and to make people hopeful, not averse.<br> <br> <b>Benefit:</b><br> There is an Islamic rule that says we should ward off the greater of two evils if we cannot ward off both.<br> The two evils mentioned in the Hadith are:<br> First: the Bedouin carrying on urinating, which is a lesser evil.<br> Second: interrupting his urination, and this is a greater evil, for this would cause harm to this person and spread the urine in a broader area of the mosque, as well as on his clothing.<br> But, if he is made to complete urination, this would lead to a lesser harm. So, if a number of evils are there and they cannot be removed all together, we should ward off what is greater.
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