Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The first narration is in accordance with the chapter heading, that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would place a small spear in front of him and face towards it while performing prayer. However, in the second narration, there is mention of carrying a staff (asa) and a short spear (anazah) along, but there is no mention of facing towards them while praying. Yet, since one important benefit of carrying these items was also their use as a barrier (sutrah), Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) established his chapter heading based on this very relevance. Furthermore, in the narration, the word "or" (aw) is not for expressing doubt, but rather for indicating variety (tanwi‘).

It is as if the narrator wishes to say that any one of these three items would be with him, and among their various benefits, they would also serve the purpose of a barrier (sutrah).

And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
There has been some disagreement regarding performing istinja (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself) with water.
It is narrated from Hudhayfah radi Allahu anhu that he did not perform istinja with water because it would leave a smell on the hand.
It is also narrated regarding Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhuma that he did not perform istinja with water.
Abdullah bin Zubayr radi Allahu anhu states that we did not do so.
Some scholars did not consider istinja with water to be correct because this water is from the category of beverages.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah established this chapter heading to refute this position.
(Fath al-Bari: 1/329)
2.
Some people have objected to Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, claiming that the proof for the chapter heading is not found in the hadith, because the part of the hadith related to the chapter heading is not the statement of Anas radi Allahu anhu, but rather the clarification of the lower narrator, Abu al-Walid Hisham.
However, this objection is baseless, because in the narrations it is explicitly mentioned from Anas radi Allahu anhu that this water was used for istinja.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Ablution, Hadith: 152)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has also cited another narration in this regard.
(Fath al-Bari: 1/330)
3.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah also intends to establish through this chapter heading that lumps of earth (stones) may also be used for istinja instead of water.
However, the use of water is better, because with lumps of earth, the actual impurity is removed but its effects remain, whereas with the use of water, both the impurity and its effects and traces are eliminated.
Combining the use of water and lumps of earth is, by consensus, superior.
And Allah knows best and His knowledge is most complete.

Explanation:
This refers to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud radi Allahu anhu, who used to carry the sandals, cushion, and ablution (wudu) water of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Due to this association, this title became attached to him.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
The intention of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah is to show that seeking assistance from another in the matter of istinja (purification after relieving oneself) is permissible. For example:
If there is a need for water, it can be requested from a servant.
Doing so is neither arrogance for the one being served nor is it a disgrace for the servant.
It is permissible both for the young to serve the elders and for the elders to take service from the young.
In this regard, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has presented a statement of Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu, the explanation of which is as follows:
Alqamah rahimahullah says that when I went to the land of Sham, I performed two units of prayer in the mosque and supplicated to Allah:
“O Allah! Grant me the company of a righteous man.” Thereupon, I saw an elderly man approaching from the front. When he came near me, I said to myself, perhaps my supplication has been accepted.
He asked:
“Where have you come from?” I replied:
“I am from Kufa.”
He said:
“Are there not among you those who used to carry the blessed sandals, ablution water, and pillow of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3761)
That is, when you have among you such personalities as Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radi Allahu anhu who served the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then why do you have this desire to attain the company of a righteous man?
2.
In the hadith, the boy mentioned as being with Anas radi Allahu anhu, from the statement of Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu, it is understood that he is Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radi Allahu anhu. It is not necessary that the term “ghulam” (boy/servant) only applies to someone of young age; rather, metaphorically, it can also be used for an elder, as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself once said to Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radi Allahu anhu, “You are an intelligent ‘ghulam’.”
Musa alayhis salam also used this term for the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Beginning of Creation, Hadith: 3207)
From some narrations, it is known that Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu and Jabir radi Allahu anhu also used to arrange water, etc., for the purification of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
It is possible that in the narration, the term “ghulam” refers to one of these individuals.
(Fath al-Bari: 1/331)

Lexical Explanation: «إِدَاوَةً» is with a kasrah on the letter “hamzah.” It refers to a small leather container in which water is kept.
«مِنْ مَّاءٍ» means filled with water.
«وَعَنَزَةً» is in the accusative case due to its conjunction with «إداوة», and both its ‘ayn and nun have a fathah, meaning a long staff with an iron tip at the end, or it can also mean a small arrow.

Benefits and Issues:
Several rulings are derived from this hadith, such as:
➊ Taking service from someone younger or of lower status than oneself.
➋ Performing istinja (purification after relieving oneself) with water.
➌ The superiority of performing istinja with water.
➍ It is permissible to suffice with stones alone, and after using stones, water may also be used.