Rubayh—meaning the hadith of Abu Sa'id—then he mentioned Rubayh, meaning: Who is he? And who is his father? He said: Meaning the one who narrates the hadith of Sa'id ibn Zayd. This implies that they are unknown (majhulun), and he weakened his chain of transmission. Even if that were authentic, it would be interpreted as emphasizing the recommended nature (istihbab) and negating perfection without it, like his saying: "There is no prayer for the neighbor of the mosque except in the mosque" (8).

Section: If we say it is obligatory and one leaves it intentionally, his purification is not valid, because he left an obligation in the purification, similar to one who leaves the intention (niyyah). If he leaves it out of forgetfulness, his purification is valid. Ahmad stipulated this in the narration of Abu Dawud; for he said: I asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal: If one forgets the tasmiyah during wudu'? He said: I hope that there is nothing against him. This is the opinion of Ishaq. Based on this, if he remembers it (9) during his purification, he should perform it when he remembers; because since it is pardoned due to forgetfulness in the wudu' as a whole, it is even more so in part of it. If he leaves it intentionally until he has washed a limb, that washing is not considered valid; because he did not mention the name of Allah over it while being intentional. The Sheikh Abu al-Faraj said: If he mentions it during the wudu', it suffices him, meaning in any case; because he has mentioned the name of Allah over his wudu'. Some of our companions said: It is not dropped by forgetfulness due to the generality of the report, and by drawing an analogy (qiyas) to other obligations (10). The first view is more appropriate, due to his saying—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—: "My nation is excused for error and forgetfulness" (11), and because wudu' is an act of devotion whose actions are distinct; thus, among its obligations are those that are dropped by forgetfulness, such as prayer. It is not correct to draw an analogy to other obligations of purification, because the obligation of those has been emphasized, unlike the tasmiyah.

Once this is established, the tasmiyah is the saying of "In the name of Allah" (Bismillah); nothing else can take its place, like the tasmiyah legislated for the sacrificial animal, and when eating food or drinking beverage. Its place is [after the intention and before all the actions of purification; because the tasmiyah is an obligatory statement in the purification, thus it is] (12).