Source: Urdu Commentary of ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām from the Sayings of the Best of Mankind
Translator: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Narrated by ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn:
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās and al-Miswar ibn Makhramah disagreed at al-Abwā’.
Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"A Muḥrim may wash his head."
But al-Miswar (رضي الله عنه) said:
"A Muḥrim may not wash his head."
So Ibn ‘Abbās sent me to Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه). I found him washing himself between two wooden supports, while covered with a cloth.
I greeted him, and he asked:
“Who is this?”
I said:
“I am ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn, sent to you by Ibn ‘Abbās to ask how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ washed his head while in iḥrām?”
Abū Ayyūb placed his hand on the cloth, lowered it until his head was visible to me, and said to a man pouring water:
“Pour the water.”
The man poured water over his head, and Abū Ayyūb moved his hands forward and backward over his head and then said:
“This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wash his head.”
In another narration, al-Miswar said to Ibn ‘Abbās:
“From now on, I will never argue with you.”
Explanation of Terms:
Explanation of the Ḥadīth:
Sayyidunā Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) did not ask whether the Prophet ﷺ washed his head while in iḥrām, but specifically how he did it. This approach not only confirmed the permissibility but also clarified the method of washing during iḥrām.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Ḥajar: 4/56]
[Kashf al-Lithām by al-Saffārīnī: 4/352]
This ḥadīth provides clear evidence that it is permissible for a muḥrim to wash both his head and body.
① ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn – A trusted tābi‘ī and freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbās. He was present during the caliphate of Yazīd ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, during which he passed away.
② ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) – Renowned Companion and great scholar among the Ṣaḥābah.
③ al-Miswar ibn Makhramah (رضي الله عنه) – Born two years after the Hijrah in Makkah, came to Madinah at the time of the Conquest of Makkah, and was only six years old at that time. He passed away in Rabī‘ al-Thānī, 74 AH.
Reference:
Translator: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Narrated by ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn:
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās and al-Miswar ibn Makhramah disagreed at al-Abwā’.
Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) said:
"A Muḥrim may wash his head."
But al-Miswar (رضي الله عنه) said:
"A Muḥrim may not wash his head."
So Ibn ‘Abbās sent me to Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه). I found him washing himself between two wooden supports, while covered with a cloth.
I greeted him, and he asked:
“Who is this?”
I said:
“I am ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn, sent to you by Ibn ‘Abbās to ask how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ washed his head while in iḥrām?”
Abū Ayyūb placed his hand on the cloth, lowered it until his head was visible to me, and said to a man pouring water:
“Pour the water.”
The man poured water over his head, and Abū Ayyūb moved his hands forward and backward over his head and then said:
“This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wash his head.”
In another narration, al-Miswar said to Ibn ‘Abbās:
“From now on, I will never argue with you.”
Explanation of Terms:
- al-Abwā’: A location between Makkah and Madinah.
- Ṭāṭa’ahu: He lowered it. (Third person masculine, past tense, known form)
Explanation of the Ḥadīth:
Sayyidunā Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) did not ask whether the Prophet ﷺ washed his head while in iḥrām, but specifically how he did it. This approach not only confirmed the permissibility but also clarified the method of washing during iḥrām.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Ḥajar: 4/56] [Kashf al-Lithām by al-Saffārīnī: 4/352]This ḥadīth provides clear evidence that it is permissible for a muḥrim to wash both his head and body.
① ‘Abdullāh ibn Ḥunayn – A trusted tābi‘ī and freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbās. He was present during the caliphate of Yazīd ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, during which he passed away.
② ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) – Renowned Companion and great scholar among the Ṣaḥābah.
③ al-Miswar ibn Makhramah (رضي الله عنه) – Born two years after the Hijrah in Makkah, came to Madinah at the time of the Conquest of Makkah, and was only six years old at that time. He passed away in Rabī‘ al-Thānī, 74 AH.
Reference:
- Bāb: Faskh al-Ḥajj ilā al-‘Umrah (Changing Ḥajj to ‘Umrah)
