Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
➊ There is a background to this narration: the mother of Qasim bin Muhammad was an umm walad (concubine), and due to the influence of her upbringing, there was some irregularity (lahn) in Qasim’s Arabic speech. Upon this, Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha disciplined him, which made him somewhat upset, and he stopped eating and began to pray. At this, Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha narrated this hadith to him and fulfilled the duty of enjoining good (amr bil-ma‘ruf).

➋ It should be noted that hunger and the need to relieve oneself are natural matters that are not under a person’s control. The Shari‘ah has specifically commanded that one should relieve oneself of these before prayer. However, actions that are within a person’s control—such as leaving some work incomplete or having something preoccupy the mind—then the religious requirement is that a person should clear his mind of such matters and turn his attention to prayer, and either complete his work before prayer or after prayer. For example, during travel, there is a concession to combine two prayers (jam‘ bayn al-salatayn). If a mother is being disturbed by her child, it is permitted for her to pick up the child and pray.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
Lahhana:
One who makes many mistakes in Arabic grammar (i‘rab).
(2)
Min ayna atayta:
Where did this grammatical error come to you from?
(3)
Adabba:
Derived from “dabb” (envy and malice);
expressed agitation and anger.
(4)
Ghudaru:
That is, O unfaithful one.
(5)
Al-Akhbathaan:
Urine and feces.
(6)
Yudafi‘u:
To repel,
to remove—here it means to restrain them.