ABLUTION SECTION · 90 – THE GHUSL OF ONE IN A STATE OF CEREMONIAL IMPURITY
Guzayf ibn Haris (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
I asked Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), "Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform ghusl (ritual bath) in the evening or near morning? How did you see that?" She said, “Sometimes in the evening and sometimes near morning.” I said, “Allah is great; praise be to Allah who allows ease in matters.”
I said, "Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform Witr prayer in the evening or near morning? How did you see that?” She said, “Sometimes in the evening and sometimes near morning.” I said, “Allah is great; praise be to Allah who allows ease in matters.”
I said, "Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recite the Qur’an openly or secretly? How did you see that?" Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “Sometimes openly and sometimes secretly.”
I said, “Allah is great; praise be to Allah who makes things easy.”
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Angels do not enter a house containing images, dogs, or a person in a state of ritual impurity.” [181]
EXPLANATION:
The circumstances in which angels do not approach people are:
1. Images carved on walls, figures depicting living beings,
2. Living depictions embroidered on clothing,
3. Living depictions embroidered on displays, cushions, and pillows,
4. Depictions of living animals. Non-living objects and landscape depictions are outside the meaning of this hadith,
5. Passport-sized partial images; if covered, they may, God willing, be excluded from the scope of this hadith,
6. The angels who keep their distance are those descending with mercy and blessings. Guardian angels, however, do not separate themselves from humans even if they maintain a certain distance.
7. If a dog is kept for guarding purposes, it does not fall within the scope of this hadith,
8. By "a person in a state of ritual impurity," is meant one who makes ritual impurity habitual, spending prayer times in that state. It does not refer to someone who becomes ritually impure in the evening and delays bathing until after the morning prayer. (Mealim-us-Sunnah vol. 1, p. 153), Avn al-Mabud vol. 1, p. 90)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would sleep without touching water while in a state of ritual impurity. [182]
COMMENTARY
This honorable hadith indicates that it is not obligatory for someone who is ritually impure to take an ablution, wash their face and legs, when they wish to sleep.
As mentioned above, the most excellent (course) is to perform *ghusl* (complete bath), then take an ablution, then wash one’s face and legs and sleep.