• current selection in your language

IN SEARCH OF KNOWLEDGE

20

“Zirr went to Safwan, the son of Assal to inquire about the wiping of the hand over leather socks (when making ablution). Safwan asked me, 'Zirr, what brings you here?' Zirr replied, 'The search of knowledge.' Safwan said, 'The angels spread their wings for the one who seeks knowledge out of pleasure of that which he seeks.' Thereupon Zirr told Safwan, 'Some doubt has arisen in my mind concerning the wiping of the hand over socks after one has relieved himself. Because you are one of the Companions of the Prophet I have come to ask you about it, did you hear him mention anything concerning it?' 'Yes' Safwan replied, 'The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, told us that while we were on a journey we need not remove our socks to wash our feet for a period of three days and nights when we make ablution, except after having had intercourse with our wives. However, in other cases such as after sleep, relieving oneself and so on, you need only wipe your hands over the socks during that period.'

Then Zirr asked him, 'Did you hear him say anything concerning love and affection?' Safwan replied, 'Once when we were journeying with the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, a Bedouin called out to him in a loud, harsh voice saying, 'O Muhammad!' The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, answered him in almost the same tone saying, "Here am I." I (Safwan) spoke to the Bedouin saying, 'Woe to you, lower your voice in his presence; this is the command of Allah.' The Bedouin replied, "I will not lower my voice!" Then addressing the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, the Bedouin asked, "What about the person who loves a people but is unable to be in their company?" The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, answered, "On the Day of Judgement, a person will be in the company of those he loves." After that, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, continued talking to us and mentioned a gateway in the west the width of which could be crossed by a rider in forty or seventy years.'”

One of the narrators of this hadith added, “'The gateway is somewhere in the direction of Syria. Allah created it along with the creation of the heavens and the earth. It is open for repentance, and will not be closed until the sun rises from the West.'”

A chain up to Zirr son of Hubaish said this.