Removing Ring Before Entering the Bathroom

Authored by: Fadilat al-Sheikh Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai

(may Allah have mercy on him)

Question:

There is a narration that mentions that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would enter the bathroom, he would remove his ring (on which "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah" was inscribed). Respected Zubair Ali Zai Sahib, is this narration authentic? (Tariq Mujahid Yazmani, 1427/11/14 AH)

Answer:

The narration about removing the ring before entering the bathroom is reported with the following chain of transmission:

Humam from Ibn Jurayj from Al-Zuhri from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).

• Sunan Abi Dawood: 19, and it is said: "This is a rejected Hadith."
• Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1746, and it is said: "This is a Hasan Sahih Gharib Hadith."
• Al-Shama'il by Tirmidhi: 93
• Sunan al-Nasa'i: 178/8, Hadith 5616
• Sunan Ibn Majah: 303
• Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 95/1, and it is said: "This is a weak witness, and Allah knows best," referring to the Hadith of Humam.
• Akhbar Asbahan: 111/2

Ibn Jurayj is a well-known Mudallis (one who conceals defects in the chain of narration). See:

• Tabaqat al-Mudallisin: 3/83
• Taqreeb al-Tahdhib: 4193
• Jam'i al-Tahsil: 108
• Kitab al-Mudallisin by Abu Zur’ah Ibn al-Iraqi: 40
• Al-Mudallisin by Al-Suyuti: 36
• Su'alat al-Hakim al-Naysaburi li al-Daraqutni: 265
• Ilal al-Hadith by Ibn Abi Hatim: 2078
• Su'alat al-Baradh’i: 743 (statement of Abu Mas'ud Ahmad bin al-Furat)

This narration from the Mudallis Ibn Jurayj is presented with "‘an" (عن) (without specifying hearing directly), and it is generally known among students of Hadith that a narration with "‘an" from a Mudallis (in sources other than the Sahihayn) is considered weak. Therefore, this narration is weak.

If someone finds an explicit mention of Ibn Jurayj's direct hearing in this narration, they should present it with a reference. Otherwise, using this narration as evidence is invalid. (1427/11/4 AH)