Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Some goats from the charity goats were gathered with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), so the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: O Abu Dharr, you should live a Bedouin life. The narrator says: I took them and came to the place of Rabadhah. The narrator states: I remained in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah) for five or six days. I felt very uneasy. I presented myself before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At that time, he was sitting leaning against the chamber. When he saw me, he asked: O Abu Dharr, what has happened to you? The narrator says: I sat down. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked: O Abu Dharr, what has happened to you? May your mother weep for you! I said: O Messenger of Allah! I have become junub (in a state of major ritual impurity). The narrator says: Then the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered a black slave girl, and she brought a vessel of water. I made a curtain of cloth behind a camel and performed ghusl (ritual bath), and I felt as if a mountain had been lifted from me. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Come forward. Pure earth is a means of purification for a Muslim, even if ten years pass. Then when he finds water, he should let it touch his skin (i.e., he should perform ghusl).