Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Yahya bin ‘Abbad bin ‘Abdullah bin Zubair narrates from his father, and he from his grandfather, that Sayyiduna Hanzalah bin Abu ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) and Abu Sufyan bin Harith confronted each other, and Shaddad bin Aswad killed him (Hanzalah) with a sword. At that time, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The angels are washing your companion (Hanzalah) (in the state of major ritual impurity).” When the companions inquired about the situation from his wife, she said: When the alarming call was heard, my husband (Hanzalah) was in a state of major ritual impurity, but he responded to the call (for jihad) without performing ghusl (ritual bath). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “That is why the angels are washing him.”