Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked, while Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) was listening from behind the door. The man said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! The time for prayer comes upon me while I am in a state of major impurity (junub), so should I fast?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “The time for prayer comes upon me as well while I am in a state of major impurity, then I fast.” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! You and we are not the same, because Allah Almighty has forgiven your past and future sins.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “By Allah, I hope that I am the most God-fearing among you and the most knowledgeable of those things from which one must abstain.” (So, the questioner thought that perhaps this ruling was specific to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that this ruling applies equally to him and to everyone. And from this hadith, it is understood that a servant can never be exempt from religious obligations and the requirements of servitude in any condition. And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I hope,” this is the perfection of servitude, otherwise, in reality, the rank of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is such that he is the most knowledgeable and God-fearing of all creation.)