1/6. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 14 — Lowering Garment Near the Ground
How Should One Undress While Relieving Oneself
Hadith About Modesty When Relieving Oneself
Sunan Abi Dawud : 14
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 14
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَرَادَ حَاجَةً لاَ يَرْفَعُ ثَوْبَهُ حَتَّى يَدْنُوَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بْنُ حَرْبٍ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَهُوَ ضَعِيفٌ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى الرَّمْلِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بِهِ .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to relieve himself, he would not raise his garment, until he lowered himself near the ground. Abu DAwud said: This tradition has been transmitted by 'Abd al-Salam b. Harb on the authority of al-A'mash from Anas b. Malik. This chain of narrators is weak (because A'mash's hearing tradition from Anas b. Malik is not established).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 14In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 14English translation : Book 1, Hadith 14
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 14
This hadith teaches modesty through a small physical action. Abdullah ibn Umar narrates that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to relieve himself, he would not raise his garment until he lowered himself near the ground. Abu Dawud also notes weakness in a chain connected to another route, so the wording should be handled with care. The core topic is modesty when relieving oneself. The lesson from the stated text is simple: privacy and covering were treated seriously. The narration does not speak about public display or other matters, so we should not add extra claims. It shows that modesty can be practiced in the timing of even a small movement.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration points to care in covering oneself.
- Modesty is shown before and during private acts.
- Abu Dawud’s note reminds readers to be careful with reported chains.
