Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid حفظه الله
There exists a narration that claims:
"The handkerchief which touched the noble face of the Prophet ﷺ would not be affected by fire."
Some men once stayed as guests with Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه). The Prophet ﷺ brought food for them. After they had eaten and drunk, the Prophet ﷺ called upon his maid and asked her to bring a handkerchief. The maid brought a dirty, old cloth. Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) instructed her to use it for lighting a fire, and then said: “Throw this handkerchief into the fire.”
After a while, when the handkerchief was taken out, it had become white like milk and had not burned in the slightest. They asked, “What is the matter with this?”
Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) replied:
“This is the handkerchief with which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wipe his blessed face. When it becomes dirty, we purify it by putting it in the fire, and the fire does not affect it.”
This narration is not authentic.
Neither has any chain of transmission (isnād) come to light,
nor is it found in any reliable or authoritative book.
❖ The Fire Did Not Burn the Handkerchief With Which the Prophet ﷺ Wiped His Sweat
There exists a narration that claims:
"The handkerchief which touched the noble face of the Prophet ﷺ would not be affected by fire."
Some men once stayed as guests with Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه). The Prophet ﷺ brought food for them. After they had eaten and drunk, the Prophet ﷺ called upon his maid and asked her to bring a handkerchief. The maid brought a dirty, old cloth. Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) instructed her to use it for lighting a fire, and then said: “Throw this handkerchief into the fire.”
After a while, when the handkerchief was taken out, it had become white like milk and had not burned in the slightest. They asked, “What is the matter with this?”
Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) replied:
“This is the handkerchief with which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wipe his blessed face. When it becomes dirty, we purify it by putting it in the fire, and the fire does not affect it.”
Authentication of the Narration
This narration is not authentic.
Neither has any chain of transmission (isnād) come to light,
nor is it found in any reliable or authoritative book.
