Taking Shower or Bath

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father or others from Muhammad ibn Aslam al-Jabaliy in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘The bathhouse is a very good house; it reminds of fire and banishes dirt.’ ‘Umar has said, ‘A bathhouse is the worst house; it exposes private parts and violates secrets.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘People have ascribed the words of ’Amir al-Mu’minin to ‘Umar and vice versa.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Ali ibn al-Hakam from and Ali ibn Hassan from Sulayman ibn al-Ja‘fariy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Taking a bath one day and the day after does not increase flesh. Continuously taking a bath every day melts the fat of the kidneys.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Rifa‘ah ibn Musa who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If one believes in Allah and in the life hereafter, he must not enter a bathhouse without a loincloth.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Hajj al from Sulayman al- Ja’fariy who has said the following: “Once I became ill until I lost all of my flesh. I visited al-Rida’ (a.s.), who asked, ‘Will you like to see your flesh come back?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I like to see my flesh come back.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must continue taking a bath one day and on the day after the next day, your flesh will come back. You must not take a bath every day because it causes tuberculosis.’” (Perhaps if it is a public bathhouse)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Muthanna’ al-Hannat from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not enter a bathhouse until there is something in your belly to calm down the excitement of your stomach and it is more energizing for the body. Do not enter it with your stomach full of food.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Ali ibn al-Hakam from has narrated from Rifa‘ah ibn Musa from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when about to take a bath would eat something. I once asked, ‘People around us say that before eating anything is the best time for taking a bath.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, one must eat something before taking bath; it banished bitterness (acidity) and calms down the temperature in the belly.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ all from Hanan ibn Sadir from his father who has said the following: “My father, grandfather, uncle and I once entered a bathhouse in al-Madinah and there was a man in the room for undressing. He asked, ‘From where are you people ?’ We replied, ‘We are from Iraq.’ He then asked, ‘From which part of Iraq are you?’ We replied that we are from al-Kufah.’ He said, ‘Welcome, O people of al-Kufah, but you wear only one layer of clothes and why do you not have loincloths? The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Private parts of believing people are unlawful for the believing people.’” He then sent a piece of cotton fabric for my father and made it in four parts. Then each one of us took one piece. When we were in the hot room, he turned to my grandfather and said, ‘Old man, what prevents you from using dyes?’ My grandfather said, ‘I lived with one who was better than me and you, and who did not use dyes.’ He became angry so much so that we noticed it in the bathhouse. He asked, ‘Who is that person better than you and me?’ He replied, ‘I lived with Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.), and he did not use dyes.’ He looked down and perspired. He said, ‘You have spoken the truth and proved your point.’ ‘O old man, if the Messenger of Allah used dyes, you should also use dyes because he is better than Ali ibn abu Talib, but if you will not use it you have followed the Sunnah of Ali ibn abu Talib.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘When we left the bathhouse we asked about the man and found out that he was Ali ibn al-Husayn, along with his son, Muhammad ibn Ali, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once entered a bathhouse with abu Basir and saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who had applied (lime) and on his underarms. I then informed abu Basir and he asked me to lead him so he can ask him about it. I said, ‘I saw him.’ He said, ‘You saw him (the Imam) but I cannot see him (the Imam)? Lead me to where he is.’ I then led him and he said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my lead has said that you have applied lime and on your underarms.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, O abu Muhammad, pulling up hairs of underarms weakens eyesight, so you must apply lime, O abu Muhammad.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I applied since that time and he (the Imam) said, ‘Apply; it is cleansing.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

13. In another Hadith it is narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman who has said the following: “I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), rubbing with flour mixed with oil and I said that people dislike it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

19. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan al-Taymiy from Muhammad ibn abu Hamzah from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You must not lie down on your back in the bathhouse; it melts the fat of kidneys and must not rub your feet with pottery because it may cause leprosy.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

21. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan and Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar have narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Nahawandi from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn Hammad from Abu Maryam al-Ansari in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “Once al-Hasan ibn Ali (a.s.) came out of the bathhouse and someone met him and said, ‘I wish you a fine bathing Istihmam.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Oh lowly one, why does the word ’Ist’ (meaning your seeking bath or the word’s other meaning which is ‘buttock’) need to be mentioned?’ He then said, ‘I wish you a good ‘Humaym’ . He (the Imam) said, ‘Did you not know that ‘Humaym’ means perspiration?’ He then said, ‘May your bathhouse be nice.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you wish a nice bathhouse then what is for me in it? You should instead say, ‘I wish purity for what is nice of you and nicety of what is pure of you.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

22. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ’Isma‘il ibn Yasar from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan al-Sadusiy from Bashir al-Nabbal who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about using a bathhouse. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you want to take a bath?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I like to take a bath.’ He (the Imam) commanded to warm up the bathhouse. He then entered in it and wore a loincloth, which covered from his belly button down to his knees. Then he commanded the owner of the bathhouse to apply on him (lime or oil) on what was not covered by the loincloth. Then he (the Imam) asked him to move away. He (the Imam) then applied with his hand on the area under the loincloth and said, ‘This is how you must take a bath.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

27. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from more than one person who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Looking at the private parts of non-Muslims is like looking at the private parts of donkeys.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

29. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Rifa‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgment must not allow his wife to go to a bathhouse.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

30. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgment must not send his wife to a bathhouse.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

33. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful if one reads al-Quran in a bathhouse if he does it for the sake of Allah, but not to find out how his voice is.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

34. Certain persons of our people have narrated from ibn Jumhur from Muhammad ibn al-Qasim from ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not lie down in a bathhouse; it melts the fat of the kidneys.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

35. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn ‘Umar ibn Yazid from his uncle Muhammad ibn ‘Umar from those who narrated to him that Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) used to say, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not enter the bathhouse except with a waistcloth." One day, he entered the bathhouse and applied lime paste. When the paste covered his body, he removed the waistcloth. His servant said to him, "May my father and mother be your ransom, you advise us to keep the waistcloth, but you have removed it yourself?" He replied, "Don't you know that the lime paste has covered the private parts?"

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

36. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ja‘far from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A man must not enter a bathhouse with his son where he can look at his private parts.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Parents cannot look at the private parts of their children, and children cannot look at the private parts of their parents.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has condemned the looking and the one being looked at in a bathhouse when one is without a loincloth.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

37. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once entered a bathhouse and the owner of the bathhouse asked him (the Imam), ‘Must I vacate it for you?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is not necessary. A believing person (his needs) is lighter than that.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

38. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad from Sa‘d ibn Muhammad ibn Salim from Musa ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Musa who has said that narrated to us Ali ibn Ja‘far the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘If one picks up a piece of pottery from a bathhouse and rubs himself with it, then becomes ill with leprosy he must not blame anyone except himself. One who washes with the used water of a bathhouse and becomes ill with leprosy, he also must not blame anyone else except himself.’ Muhammad ibn Ali has said, ‘I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that people of al-Madinah say, “There is cure (and protection) in it against the evil effect of the eyes.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken a lie. In it people after unlawful sexual acts bathe and fornicators bathe. In it, the worst of all creatures that Allah has created, the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt, bathe and then they say that there is cure (and protection) in it against the evil effects of the eyes. Cure for the eyes because of such effect is in reading al-Hamd (Chapter one) and al-Ma‘udhatayn (chapters One Hundred Thirteen and One Hundred Fourteen), Ayatu al-Kursi (2:255) and burning incense of al-Qust, (a certain Indian or Arabian wood), al-Murr (gum of a certain tree) and al-Luban (frankincense).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from Hamzah ibn ‘Abd Allah from Rib‘iy from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Dabiqiy who has said the following: “I once in al-Madinah entered a bathhouse and an old man was the manager of the bathhouse. I asked, ‘O Shaykh to whom does this bathhouse belong?’ He replied, ‘It belongs to abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’ I then asked, ‘Did he use it?’ He replied, ‘Yes, he did.’ I then asked, ’How would he use it?’ He said, ’First he applied lime to his pubic region and the surrounding area and to his urethra then he would call me to apply to the other parts of his body.’ I then asked, ‘Did you ever see what you do not like to see ? 5 He replied, ‘It never happened because lime is a cover.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from a man of banu Hashim who has said the following: “I once entered in dark house where a group of banu Hashim were and I offered them greeting of peace with the phrase of offering greeting. A certain one among them said, ‘Offer greeting of peace to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), he is in the center.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I offered him (the Imam) greeting of peace and sat in front of him and said, “Since a long time I loved to visit you to ask about certain things.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘Ask whatever you like.’ I then asked, ‘What do you say about using a bathhouse?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not enter a bathhouse without a loincloth, keep your eyes cast down, do not wash with used water because fornicators take a bath with it as well as those bom out of wedlock, and enemies of Ah/ al-Bayt, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who are the worst of them. 5 ”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym from Sufayman af-Ja‘fariy who has said the foifowing: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘If one wants to gain weight he should use a bathhouse one day and the day after the next day but if one is heavy and wants to lose weight he should use a bathhouse every day.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

12. Afi ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘ Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajj aj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who applies lime, then mixes flour with oil then rubs it on him after lime to remove its smell. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about rubbing with flour after lime. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then said, ‘They think it is misuse of flour.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Use of things for the benefit of body is not a misuse. I sometimes ask for bleached flour mixed with oil and rub. Misuse is when one’s belongings are destroyed and the body is harmed.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “About the case of a man who rubs his body with flour and oil after lime, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

16. Ali has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Aslam al-Jabaliy from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Sometimes when on a journey we do not find bran; if we can rub with flour.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. It is bad only when belongings are destroyed and the body is harmed. If body is benefited then it is not bad. I sometimes command my slave to prepare bleached flour with oil and I rub with it.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

17. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came out of the bathhouse, dressed, wore his turban and said to me, ‘When you come out of bathhouse wear a turban.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I thereafter would always wear a turban after coming out of the bathhouse in winter and summer.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

18. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from a man who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who applies lime and urinates standing. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. 5 ”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

20. Muhammad ibn Yahya in a marfu‘ manner has narrated the following from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan: “Once we in a group of our people entered a bathhouse and when coming out we met abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who asked us, ‘Wherefrom are you coming?’ We replied, ‘We are coming from the bathhouse.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah make your bathing pure and clean.’ We then said, ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause.’ We then went with him (the Imam). He (the Imam) entered the bathhouse and we waited until he came out, then we said, ‘May Allah make your bathing pure and clean.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah cleanse you.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

24. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq from Yusuf ibn al-Sukht in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not lean in a bathhouse; it melts the fat of kidneys. You must not comb in it; it thins out the hairs, do not wash your head with clay; it destroys self-esteem, do not rub (your feet) with pottery; it may cause leprosy and do not wipe your face with loincloths; it destroys the beauty of the face.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

25. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Afi ibn Asbat who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Do not wash your head with the clay of Misr (Egypt); it destroys self-esteem and may cause one to become a pimp.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

26. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu Yahya al-Wasitiy from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Madiy (a.s.), has said, ‘Private parts are two: the front and back. The back is covered with the rump. If you cover the penis and testicles you have covered your private parts.’” In another Hadith it is said, ‘The back is covered with the rump. You can cover the front with your hand.’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

28. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a nude person during pouring water on him can look at his own private parts, or water can be poured on him or he can look at the private parts of others. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father disliked all of it on the part of everyone.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

31. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Isma‘il ibn Mehran from Muhammad ibn Abu Hamzah from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once asked Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) ‘Can I read Quran in a bathhouse and have intercourse (in the bathhouse)?’ He (the Imam (a.s.)) replied, ‘It is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

32. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Rib‘iy ibn ‘ Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) prohibited reading al-Quran in a bathhouse. He (the Imam) said, ’No, however, he prohibited reading while nude but if one has a loincloth on him, then it is not harmful.

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.