ABLUTION SECTION · 88 – A PERSON IN A STATE OF CEREMONIAL IMPURITY EATING
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would perform ablution like that for prayer if he wished to sleep in a state of ritual impurity.
The isnad and meaning of the preceding hadith were narrated verbatim through Zuhri.
Yunus added the words: "If he wishes to eat while in a state of ritual impurity, he would wash his hands."
Abu Dawud said: This hadith from Ibn Wahb was narrated from Yunus. He shortened the account of eating and made it A’isha's statement. Similarly, this hadith from Salih ibn Abu Azhar was narrated by Zuhri as told by Ibn Mubarak. However, he stated, "From Urwa or from Abu Salamah."
Evza’i narrated this hadith from Yunus, who narrated it from Zuhri, who narrated it from the Messenger of God as told by Ibn Mubarak. [177]
EXPLANATION
This honorable hadith indicates that a person in a state of ritual impurity can eat without performing ghusl if he washes his hands. If a person who is ritually impure desires to eat, he should purify himself, perform ablution; and even if he cannot perform ablution, he should wash his hands and mouth before eating. It is better to wash and then eat whenever possible.