Chapter on Tabarruk
55- The Companions' Tabarruk from the remains of the Prophet is a speciality granted only to the Prophet
Q: I read in some books widely spread in Somalia that the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) (may Allah be pleased with them) would use the water left from the Prophet (peace be upon him) after Wudu' (ablution) a sort of Tabarruk (seeking blessing) from it. Also, they used to take his spittle and rub their bodies with to seek its blessing. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) had his hair cut, the Companions would gather and take his hair as a sort of Tabarruk too. It was narrated that `Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr drank the Prophet's blood when he (peace be upon him) applied Hijamah (cupping). Also, it was reported that Um Ayman drank the Prophet's urine. So, he said to her, "Have sound health, Um Ayman! What is the reality of such matters? Explain these points. May Allah bless you. Also, is it permissible for people to compare their current affairs with these mentioned above in case the narrations mentioned above are true?
A: There is no doubt that it was narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) (may Allah be pleased with them) would seek blessings from the Prophet's leftover ablution water, hair, mouth spittle and nasal expectoration.
These practices were authentically reported about the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) .
It was authentically reported in the Hadith narrated by Abu Juhayfah in the two Sahih (Authentic) Books of Hadith that during the Farewell Pilgrimage, when Bilal stepped out with what was left of the Prophet's ablution water, the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) rushed to take it; some of them took a little of it and others took much. It was authentically reported that during the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah, whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) spat, his spittle would fall into one of the hands of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) who would rub their bodies with it for the blessings it contained.
Also, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) had his hair cut during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he divided his hair into two halves; a half to be distributed among the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) and the other to be given to Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him). These all were authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). There is no doubt among Muslim scholars on the blessing of the Prophet's body including his hair, sweat, ablution water and all that touches his body.
However, such practices are incomparable as the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) (may Allah be pleased with them) did not do similar practices with Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq , `Umar , `Uthman or `Aly who were the best of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). They are the best people after the prophets.
If such practice was lawful or permissible with anyone other than the Prophet (peace be upon him), the early Muslims would have done it with those great Companions. Since such practices may be a means leading to Shirk and exceeding the proper limits of Islam, such practices are regarded as forbidden by Muslim scholars. According to the truest of the scholars' opinions,
it is not permissible to compare anyone with the Prophet (peace be upon him) as such blessing is a specialty granted only to the Prophet (peace be upon him).
It was authentically reported that there was a blessing in his body, sweat, hair and all the parts of his body. Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) approved of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) regarding seeking blessings from his belongings. If it had not been permissible, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would not have approved of it. Thus, no one should be compared with the Prophet (peace be upon him) concerning such matters for many reasons. As for Tabarruk from scholars and worshippers practiced by some people nowadays, it is not permissible as it opposes the practices of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and his Companions. The early Muslims never did it with their superiors and seniors such as the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and other the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet)
Had it been a good thing, they would have proceeded us thereto. Since all acts of worship are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion) and such practices may lead to Shirk and exceeding the proper limits of Islam, the verifiers from among Muslim scholars consider Tabarruk unlawful with anyone other than the Prophet (peace be upon him). As for Ibn Al-Zubayr's drinking the Prophet's blood and Um Ayman's drinking his urine, this question requires investigation. Such stories were reported but their authenticity deserves investigation and verification of the narrators of these stories. Blood and urine are basically forbidden. Allah (Exalted be He) has made both urine and blood forbidden as they are both impure. Were these stories true, they would be considered exceptions as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had specialties such as his sweat, hair and spittle. If the Hadith reported about Um Ayman and the Hadith reported about Ibn Al-Zubayr were authentic, such things would be regarded as a specialty for the Prophet (peace be upon him). However, we will investigate this matter and discuss it in a next episode In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills).
to ask for barakah through it. What is view of Ahlul-Sunnah on this? I also saw some sahih hadeeth supporting this. Please elaborate. Jazakallahu Khairan.