Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Thabit, who says: I said to Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): O Abu Hamzah! Please relate to us some of those wondrous things (i.e., miracles) which you yourself witnessed and which you do not narrate from anyone else. He said: One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the Zuhr prayer, then he walked and sat at those places where Jibreel (peace be upon him) used to come to him. Meanwhile, Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came and called the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for the Asr prayer. (Upon hearing this) those whose residences were in Madinah Munawwarah all went to their homes so that they could relieve themselves and return with ablution, while some of the Muhajireen whose families were not in Madinah Munawwarah remained behind. A wide-mouthed vessel of water was brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He placed his blessed hand in it, but his hand could not fit entirely in the vessel, so he gathered four fingers together and placed them in the vessel and said: Come close and perform ablution. During this, the hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remained in the vessel until all the people had performed ablution. I asked: Abu Hamzah! What do you think, how many people were there? He replied: Between seventy and eighty.