3/31. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 374c — Ablution Is for Prayer
It is permissible for one who has broken his wudu’ to eat, and there is nothing disliked about doing so, and wudu’ need not be done immediately
Ablution Is for Prayer: Sahih Hadith Meaning
Sahih Muslim : 374c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 374c
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ الطَّائِفِيُّ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، مَوْلَى آلِ السَّائِبِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ ذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى الْغَائِطِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ قُدِّمَ لَهُ طَعَامٌ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ تَوَضَّأُ . قَالَ " لِمَ أَلِلصَّلاَةِ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to the privy and when he came back, he was presented with food. It was said to him; Messenger of Allah, wouldn't you perform ablution. He said: Why, am I to say prayer?
Reference : Sahih Muslim 374cIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 150USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 727
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 374c
This hadith teaches a simple point about ablution and prayer. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم went to the privy and returned. Food was then placed before him. Someone asked, “Messenger of Allah, wouldn’t you perform ablution?” He replied, “Why, am I to say prayer?” The wording makes the focus clear. The question was about ablution before eating, and the answer pointed to prayer. This does not mean the hadith is giving a full list of all rules of cleanliness. It shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم correcting the idea that wudu was needed in that moment just because food had been served.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not make wudu a condition for that meal.
- His answer linked ablution with the intention to pray.
- The hadith teaches clear limits without adding extra details.
