1/125. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 325 — Different Wording on Tayammum
The Tayammum
Tayammum Hadith and the Wording About Forearms
Sunan Abi Dawud : 325
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 325
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ سَهْلٍ الرَّمْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، - يَعْنِي الأَعْوَرَ - حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيهَا وَمَسَحَ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ أَوْ إِلَى الذِّرَاعَيْنِ . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ كَانَ سَلَمَةُ يَقُولُ الْكَفَّيْنِ وَالْوَجْهَ وَالذِّرَاعَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَنْصُورٌ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ انْظُرْ مَا تَقُولُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذْكُرُ الذِّرَاعَيْنِ غَيْرُكَ .
Shu’bah Narrated from:
This is transmitted by Shu'bah through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: He ('Ammar) said: He (the Prophet) then blew it and wiped with it his face and hands up to elbows or up to the forearms. Shu'bah said: Salamah used to narrate (the words) "the hands and the face and the forearms". One day Mansur said to him: Look, what are you saying, because no one except you mentions the (word) "forearms".
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 325In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 325English translation : Book 1, Hadith 325
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 325
This Hadith gives another chain for the same tayammum report. It says that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم blew into his hands and wiped his face and hands up to the elbows or forearms. Then Shu'bah explains that Salamah used to narrate the words “the hands, the face, and the forearms.” Mansur warned him to be careful, because no one else mentioned the forearms in that way. This report is not just about the method of tayammum. It also shows how precise Hadith scholars were with wording. For a reader, the safe lesson is to notice what the narration actually says and also notice the caution raised about one wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration mentions wiping the face and hands in tayammum.
- There is a reported difference about the wording related to forearms.
- Mansur advised care in repeating a wording that others did not mention.
- Hadith transmission includes checks on exact words.
