His ablution was like this.

His ablution was like this.” In Tahdhib Al-Tahdhib, Ibn Hajar has cited Ibn Habban and Abu Matar among the trustee. Hamran says: Uthman asked for water and performed ablution.

Then he smiled and said, “Will you ask me why I smiled?” He was then asked, “Well, what made you smile?” He replied, “I saw the Prophet (a.s) perform ablution as I have just done; he rinsed his mouth with water and sniffed it and washed his hands three times and rubbed his head and the top of his feet.” (3) The same tradition is narrated in Kanz Al-Ummal and Abu Ya’li is quoted as saying that this tradition is true (4).

Abu Malik Ash’ari told his relatives, “Come to me to copy the prayer of the Prophet (a.s).” Then he asked for water to perform ablution. He sniffed water and washed his face three times and washed his (hands from) elbows three times, and rubbed his head and the top of his feet. Then they performed prayers (5). The Messenger of Allah (a.s) performed ablution and rubbed on his shoes and his feet (6).

It is narrated from Rubayyi’ that she said, “Ibn Abbas came to me and asked about the tradition I have narrated—the one stating that the Prophet (a.s) washed his feet in ablution. So, Ibn Abbas said, “People avoid anything but washing, while I find in Allah’s Book not but the obligation of rubbing” (7).

According to Al-Zawa’id, “The document of this tradition is true.” Muhammad Ibn Jarir Tabari, in his Tafsir (exegesis of the Holy Qur`an), quotes Ibn Abbas as saying: Ablution contains two washings (the face and the hands) and two rubbings (head and the feet)” (8). Ibn Jarir Tabari writes in his Tafsir again (9). Humayd Tuwayl says: Musa, son of Anas, told his father, O Abu Hamza!

Hajjaj delivered a sermon for us in Ahwaz; he reminded us of the ritual purity saying, ‘Wash your faces and your hands and rub your head and feet. Indeed, nothing is dirtier in the human body than the feet, so wash your feet—both sides.’ Anas said, ‘The Almighty said the truth but Hajjaj lied. The Almighty says: Rub your head and feet.’ Humayd Tuwayl said, ‘Anas himself, when rubbing, wets his feet’ (10).

All the narrators of this tradition have been confirmed to be truthful (11) as Ibn Kathir does in his Tafsir. As you see, Anas, a Companion of the Prophet, denies a person who obliges washing the feet in the ritual ablution and believes that God has only stipulated rubbing. Abi Ja’far said: “Rub your head.” (12) Shi’bi is quoted as saying, “The feet should only be rubbed.