Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: One day the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came, and the iqamah for prayer had already been pronounced. The rows had been straightened, until when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood at his prayer place and we were waiting for him to say the takbir, he went back. He said: Remain in your places. Then he went into the house and stayed there for a while, then he came back to us, and water was dripping from his head. He had performed ghusl. (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) These two actions took place on two different occasions. On one occasion, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went, said the takbir, then remembered that he was in a state of janabah. Then he went out, performed ghusl, then came back and led them in prayer anew. While on the other occasion, he came, and when he stood to say the takbir, he remembered that he was in a state of janabah—this he remembered before saying the takbir. He went, performed ghusl, then came back and led them in prayer. In this way, there remains no contradiction or difference between the two narrations.