1/125. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 324 — Wiping Face and Hands in Tayammum
The Tayammum
Tayammum Method: Wiping the Face and Hands
Sunan Abi Dawud : 324
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 324
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ذَرٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَمَّارٍ، بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ " . وَضَرَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيهَا وَمَسَحَ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ شَكَّ سَلَمَةُ وَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي فِيهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ . يَعْنِي أَوْ إِلَى الْكَفَّيْنِ .
Ammar Narrated from:
Ibn 'Abd al-Rahman b. Abza reported on the authority of his father this incident from 'Ammar. He said: This would have been enough for you, and the Prophet (ﷺ) struck the ground with his hand. He then blew it and wiped with it his face and hands. Being doubtful Salamah said: I do not know (whether he wiped) up to the elbows or the wrists.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 324In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 324English translation : Book 1, Hadith 324
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 324
This Hadith repeats the incident of Ammar and tayammum with a short and clear wording. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that this action would have been enough, then struck the earth with his hand, blew into it, and wiped his face and hands. The narrator Salamah is unsure whether the wiping reached the elbows or only the wrists. That doubt is part of the narration and should be respected. The Hadith is useful for people searching for the method of tayammum because it shows the main actions: touch the earth, reduce the dust by blowing, and wipe. It also teaches care in narration, because uncertainty is mentioned honestly instead of being hidden.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم showed tayammum as a simple act of purification.
- Blowing after touching the earth is mentioned in this wording.
- The narrator openly stated his doubt about the exact extent of wiping.
- Careful reporting includes what is known and what is uncertain.
