Nafi’ reports: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Can a person sleep in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: Yes, but he should perform ablution (wudu) as for prayer. Whenever Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) intended to do so, he would perform ablution as for prayer, except that he would not wash his feet.
Hadith Takhrij«ھذا حديث تقدم مرفوعه برقم (900)۔ ولفظ القسم المرفوع منه عند عبد بن حميد: ((نعم ويتوضأ وضوء ه للصلاة ما عدا قدميه۔)) فجعل قوله ما عدا قدميه مرفوعا مع انه عند غيره موقوف علي ابن عمر۔ وأخرج فعل ابن عمر ھذا مالك في المؤطا : 1/ 48، وابن ابي شيبة: 1/ 60، والبيھقي: 1/ 200 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 4929 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 4929»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … There could be three reasons for the action of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu: (1) He may not have washed his feet due to some excuse. (2) He may not have washed his feet to establish that this is not obligatory in ablution (wudu). (3) According to general narrations, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to wash his feet at the end during the ritual bath (ghusl) of janabah; it is possible that Sayyiduna Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu, reasoning from this action, did not wash his feet.