1/25. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 48 — Wudu, Siwak, and Ease
The Siwak
Hadith About Wudu for Every Prayer and Siwak
Sunan Abi Dawud : 48
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 48
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ الطَّائِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ تَوَضُّؤَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ طَاهِرًا وَغَيْرَ طَاهِرٍ عَمَّ ذَاكَ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِيهِ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ زَيْدِ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ حَنْظَلَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَامِرٍ حَدَّثَهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُمِرَ بِالْوُضُوءِ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ طَاهِرًا وَغَيْرَ طَاهِرٍ فَلَمَّا شَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ أُمِرَ بِالسِّوَاكِ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَرَى أَنَّ بِهِ قُوَّةً فَكَانَ لاَ يَدَعُ الْوُضُوءَ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ رَوَاهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ .
Abdullah b. 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar Narrated from:
Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Habban asked Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Umar about the reason for Ibn Umar's performing ablution for every prayer, whether he was with or without ablution. He replied: Asma', daughter of Zayd ibn al-Khattab, reported to me that Abdullah ibn Hanzalah ibn AbuAmir narrated to her that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was earlier commanded to perform ablution for every prayer whether or not he was with ablution.When it became a burden for him, he was ordered to use tooth-stick for every prayer. As Ibn Umar thought that he had the strength (to perform the ablution for every prayer), he did not give up performing ablution for every prayer.Abu Dawud said: Ibrahim b. Sa'd narrated this tradition on the authority of Muhammad b. Ishaq, and there he mentions the name of 'Ubaid Allah b. 'Abd Allah (instead of 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar)
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 48In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 48English translation : Book 1, Hadith 48
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 48
This hadith about wudu for every prayer explains a practice linked to Ibn Umar and the report he received. It says the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was earlier commanded to perform ablution for every prayer, whether he already had ablution or not. When that became hard for him, he was ordered to use the tooth-stick for every prayer. Ibn Umar believed he had the strength to keep performing wudu for every prayer, so he did not leave it. The main message is balance between purification, siwak, and ease. The hadith does not tell everyone to copy Ibn Umar’s personal strength. It simply reports why he kept doing that practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report mentions an earlier command to perform wudu for every prayer.
- When that became hard, siwak for every prayer is mentioned instead.
- Ibn Umar continued wudu for every prayer because he felt able to do so.
- The hadith shows how ease is considered in acts of purification.
