I asked: Messenger of Allah (saws) may I wipe over the socks? He replied: Yes. He asked: For one day? He replied: For one day. He again asked: And for two days? He replied: For two days too. He again asked: And for three days? He replied: Yes, as long as you wish.

Abu Dawud said: Another version says: He asked him about the period until he reached the period of seven days. The Messenger of Allah (saws) replied: Yes, as long as you wish (i.e. there is no time limit).

Abu Dawud said: There is a variance in the chain of narrators of this tradition. The chain is not strong.

Another chain from Yahya b. Ayyub is also disputed.

'Abdur-Rahman bin Mahdi said: "Salm bin Zarin" but that is an error, "Zarir" is more correct, and Abu Sa'd As-San'ani's (a narrator in this chain) name is Muhammad bin Muyassir.

This hadith has been transmitted through other chains of transmitters on the authority of Abu Huraira in which it is reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a mention of washing the hand, and did not instruct to wash it three times. But the hadith narrated from Jabir and Ibn Musayyab. Abu Salama, and Abdullah b. Shaqiq, Abu Salih, Abla Razin, there is a mention of" three times".

Ibn `Abbas said, "When the ailment of the Prophet became worse, he said, 'Bring for me (writing) paper and I will write for you a statement after which you will not go astray.' But `Umar said, 'The Prophet is seriously ill, and we have got Allah's Book with us and that is sufficient for us.' But the companions of the Prophet differed about this and there was a hue and cry. On that the Prophet said to them, 'Go away (and leave me alone). It is not right that you should quarrel in front of me." Ibn `Abbas came out saying, "It was most unfortunate (a great disaster) that Allah's Apostle was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise. (Note: It is apparent from this Hadith that Ibn `Abbas had witnessed the event and came out saying this statement. The truth is not so, for Ibn `Abbas used to say this statement on narrating the Hadith and he had not witnessed the event personally. See Fath Al-Bari Vol. 1, p.220 footnote.) (See Hadith No. 228, Vol. 4).

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik through another chain of transmitters.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying : When a dog licks a (thing contained in a) utensil you must wash it seven times, using earth (sand) for the seventh time.

Abu Dawud said : This tradition has been transmitted by another chain of narrators in which there is no mention of earth.

Ibn `Abbas said, "When Allah's Apostle was on his deathbed and there were some men in the house, he said, 'Come near, I will write for you something after which you will not go astray.' Some of them ( i.e. his companions) said, 'Allah's Apostle is seriously ill and you have the (Holy) Qur'an. Allah's Book is sufficient for us.' So the people in the house differed and started disputing. Some of them said, 'Give him writing material so that he may write for you something after which you will not go astray.' while the others said the other way round. So when their talk and differences increased, Allah's Apostle said, "Get up." Ibn `Abbas used to say, "No doubt, it was very unfortunate (a great disaster) that Allah's Apostle was prevented from writing for them that writing because of their differences and noise."

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.

When Allah's Apostle was on his death-bed and in the house there were some people among whom was `Umar bin Al-Khattab, the Prophet said, "Come, let me write for you a statement after which you will not go astray." `Umar said, "The Prophet is seriously ill and you have the Qur'an; so the Book of Allah is enough for us." The people present in the house differed and quarrelled. Some said "Go near so that the Prophet may write for you a statement after which you will not go astray," while the others said as `Umar said. When they caused a hue and cry before the Prophet, Allah's Apostle said, "Go away!" Narrated 'Ubaidullah: Ibn `Abbas used to say, "It was very unfortunate that Allah's Apostle was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise."

When the time of the death of the Prophet approached while there were some men in the house, and among them was `Umar bin Al-Khatttab, the Prophet said, "Come near let me write for you a writing after which you will never go astray." `Umar said, "The Prophet is seriously ill, and you have the Qur'an, so Allah's Book is sufficient for us." The people in the house differed and disputed. Some of them said, "Come near so that Allah's Apostle may write for you a writing after which you will not go astray," while some of them said what `Umar said. When they made much noise and differed greatly before the Prophet, he said to them, "Go away and leave me." Ibn `Abbas used to say, "It was a great disaster that their difference and noise prevented Allah's Apostle from writing that writing for them.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu Huraira with a different chain of transmitters.