as agreed upon (52). Al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba narrated from him that he used to pray on a mat and a tanned fur skin (53). In what was narrated by Ibn Majah (54), the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed wrapped in a garment, placing his hand upon it when he prostrated. This is because that which is not disliked to pray in is not disliked to pray upon, like linen and palm leaves.
Prayer on the back of an animal is valid if it is possible for him to fulfill the required postures upon it, as is supererogatory prayer during travel. If the animal is impure but has a pure mat upon it (55), prayer upon it is valid, for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prayed on a donkey (56). Anas also did this. Prayer on a carriage—which is a wooden structure on wheels—is valid if he is able to do so, because it is a surface upon which his limbs can rest, so it is like anything else.
224 - Issue: He said: (And if one prays while there is impurity on his garment, even if it is a small amount, he must repeat it.)
We have already mentioned that purification from impurity is a condition for the validity of prayer, and there is no difference between a large amount and a small amount, except in cases we will mention later, if Allah the Almighty wills. Among those who said that a small amount of urine, such as the size of needle heads, is not excused are Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Thawr. Abu Hanifa said: A small amount of all impurities is excused, because one exercises caution regarding it by wiping in the area of cleaning oneself after relieving oneself (istinja'), and if it were not excused, wiping would not suffice for it, as it does not for a large amount. Also, because it is difficult to avoid, so it is excused, like blood. Our position is the generality of the saying of the Almighty: {And keep your garments pure} (1). And the saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "Purify yourselves from urine, for the majority of the punishment of the grave is from it" (2). And because it is an impurity the removal of which is not difficult, so its removal is obligatory, like a large amount. As for blood, it is difficult to avoid, for a person is almost never free from a pimple, an itch, or a boil, and it exits from his nose, mouth, and other areas; thus it is more difficult to avoid a small amount of it than a large amount, and for this reason a distinction was made in ablution between a small amount and a large amount.
225 - Issue: He said: (Unless it is a small amount of blood or pus of a kind that is not considered excessive.)
Most scholars hold the view that a small amount of blood and pus is excused. Among those from whom this was narrated are: Ibn Abbas, Abu Hurayra, Jabir, Ibn Abi Awfa (1), Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Tawus, Mujahid, 'Urwa, Muhammad ibn Kunasa (2), al-Nakha'i, Qatada, al-Awza'i, al-Shafi'i [in one of his two opinions] (3), and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y). Ibn Umar used to
(52) The hadith of 'Itban ibn Malik and Anas ibn Malik was recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on entering a house and praying where one wishes, and The Chapter on mosques in houses, from the Book of Prayer; and in: The Chapter on the concession during rain and illness to pray in one's dwelling, The Chapter on saying the salutation when the Imam says it, and The Chapter on one who does not return the salutation to the Imam, from the Book of Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/115, 116, 170, 212, 213. And by Muslim, in: The Chapter on evidence that whoever dies upon monotheism will enter Paradise definitively, from the Book of Faith; and in: The Chapter on the concession for missing the congregation due to an excuse, and The Chapter on the permissibility of congregational supererogatory prayer and prayer on a mat... etc., from the Book of Mosques. Sahih Muslim 1/61, 62, 455-458. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the blind man acting as imam, and The Chapter on congregation for supererogatory prayer, from the Book of Imama 2/81, 82. The hadith of Anas was recorded by al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on prayer on a khumra (palm-leaf mat), from the Book of Prayer. Sunan al-Darimi 1/319. (53) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on prayer on a mat, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/153. (54) In: The Chapter on prostration on garments in heat and cold, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/329. (55) In M: "aw alayhi" (or on it) is an error. (56) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on supererogatory prayer on a donkey, from the Book of Shortening Prayer. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/56. And by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the permissibility of performing supererogatory prayer on a mount in whatever direction it faces, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/487.
