1/41. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 81 — Shared Water Etiquette in Bathing
The Prohibition Of That
Hadith About Shared Water and Bathing Etiquette
Sunan Abi Dawud : 81
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 81
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ رَجُلاً صَحِبَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ كَمَا صَحِبَهُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَغْتَسِلَ الْمَرْأَةُ بِفَضْلِ الرَّجُلِ أَوْ يَغْتَسِلَ الرَّجُلُ بِفَضْلِ الْمَرْأَةِ - زَادَ مُسَدَّدٌ - وَلْيَغْتَرِفَا جَمِيعًا .
Humayd al-Himyari Narrated from:
I met a person (among the Companion of Prophet) who remained in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) for four years as AbuHurayrah remained in his company. He reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade that the female should wash with the water left over by the male, and that the male should wash with the left-over of the female. The version of Musaddad adds: "That they both take the handful of water together."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 81In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 81English translation : Book 1, Hadith 81
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 81
This hadith about shared water teaches a careful manner in bathing and purification. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade a woman from washing with the water left over by a man, and he also forbade a man from washing with the water left over by a woman. The added wording explains a better way: they may both take handfuls of water together. So the focus is not on making bathing hard, but on keeping a clear etiquette around leftover water. The hadith gives a simple guide for ghusl, water use, and shared vessels. It also shows that small details in purification were taught with care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leftover bathing water should be treated with care in purification.
- A man and woman may take water together from the vessel, as stated in the added wording.
- Purification includes simple manners, not only the act of washing.
