ABLUTION SECTION · 60 – DETERMINING THE DURATION OF THE MESH PRAYER
157 – Huzeyma ibn Sabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: "The wiping over socks for a traveler is three days, and for a resident one day and night."
Abu Dawud said: Mansur ibn Mu'tamir transmitted it through the same chain of narrators from Ibrahim at-Taimi. He said, "(If we had asked more of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), he would have given us more)." [133]
EXPLANATION
Huzeyma (may Allah be pleased with him) thought that if they requested an extension of the period for wiping over socks during a journey, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) could increase it to five days. This is not certain but rather an opinion.
158 – Ubay ibn Imara (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Yahya ibn Ayyub (Ubay said that the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) prayed with him towards Jerusalem and the Ka'bah.) Ubay said:
"O Messenger of Allah, should I wipe over my socks?"
He replied, "Yes." He asked, "For one day?"
He replied, "For one day." He asked, "For two days?"
He replied, "For two days."
He asked, "Can I do it for three days?"
He replied, "As much as you wish."
Abu Dawud said: This hadith was transmitted by Ibn Abi Maryam al-Misri, Yahya ibn Ayyub, from Abdurrahman ibn Razeen, from Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Abi Ziyad, from Ubada ibn Nusey, from Ubay ibn Imara. In his narration, Ubay ibn Imara said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), and it extended to seven days, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Yes, as much as appears apparent to you."
Abu Dawud said: There is disagreement regarding the chain of narrators of this hadith. The chain of narrators is not strong. [134]
EXPLANATION
One of the two qiblas (directions of prayer) is the Ka'bah, and the other is towards Jerusalem, within the Blessed Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque.
A traveler may wipe over his socks for three days and nights during a journey, while a resident may do so for one day and night.
This honorable hadith states that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) left Ubay (may Allah be pleased with him) to choose how many days he wished, and as many days as were apparent and necessary for him, based on which Imam Malik says: "There is no limit to the duration of wiping. One may wipe as much as he pleases unless he is in a state of major ritual impurity."