1/19. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 35 — Odd Numbers and Concealment
Covering While Relieving Oneself
Hadith About Istijmar, Odd Numbers, and Concealment
Sunan Abi Dawud : 35
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 35
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى الرَّازِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ ثَوْرٍ، عَنِ الْحُصَيْنِ الْحُبْرَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اكْتَحَلَ فَلْيُوتِرْ مَنْ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلاَ حَرَجَ وَمَنِ اسْتَجْمَرَ فَلْيُوتِرْ مَنْ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلاَ حَرَجَ وَمَنْ أَكَلَ فَمَا تَخَلَّلَ فَلْيَلْفِظْ وَمَا لاَكَ بِلِسَانِهِ فَلْيَبْتَلِعْ مَنْ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلاَ حَرَجَ وَمَنْ أَتَى الْغَائِطَ فَلْيَسْتَتِرْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَجْمَعَ كَثِيبًا مِنْ رَمْلٍ فَلْيَسْتَدْبِرْهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَلْعَبُ بِمَقَاعِدِ بَنِي آدَمَ مَنْ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلاَ حَرَجَ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ أَبُو عَاصِمٍ عَنْ ثَوْرٍ قَالَ حُصَيْنٌ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ وَرَوَاهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ عَنْ ثَوْرٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخَيْرُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخَيْرُ هُوَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
AbuHurayrah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone applies collyrium, he should do it an odd number of times. If he does so, he has done well; but if not, there is no harm. If anyone cleanses himself with pebbles, he should use an odd number. If he does so, he has done well; but if not, there is no harm.If anyone eats, he should throw away what he removes with a toothpick and swallow what sticks to his tongue. If he does so, he has done well; if not, there is no harm. If anyone goes to relieve himself, he should conceal himself, and if all he can do is to collect a heap of send, he should sit with his back to it, for the devil makes sport with the posteriors of the children of Adam. If he does so, he has done well; but if not, there is no harm.
[1] Istijmar means cleaning after defecation by use of stones, and the meaning here applies to cleaning after urinating and defecating, whatever the means of cleaning. See chapter 21 which follows.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 35In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 35English translation : Book 1, Hadith 35
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 35
This hadith about istijmar and odd numbers gathers several daily manners in one report. Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said collyrium should be applied an odd number of times. He also said the one who cleanses himself with pebbles should use an odd number. The report adds food etiquette: throw away what is removed with a toothpick and swallow what stays on the tongue. It also says that one who relieves himself should conceal himself, even by making a small heap of sand and sitting with his back to it if that is all he can do. The repeated wording, “if he does so, he has done well; but if not, there is no harm,” keeps the tone measured. The main lesson is clean, modest daily conduct.
What we learn from this hadith
- Use an odd number when cleansing with pebbles.
- Conceal yourself when relieving yourself as much as possible.
- Food remnants removed by a toothpick should be thrown away, while what remains on the tongue may be swallowed.
