It is a recommended practice (sunnah) for a man to sleep while in a state of wudu' if he is in a state of janabah. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he wanted to sleep, would wipe his hands on the wall only.
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The questioner : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by a man about sleeping while in a state of janabah, and he ordered him to perform wudu'. In Sahih al-Jami', it is stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he... would wipe his hands on the wall. Is this a specific privilege for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or is it a general legislative ruling?
The Shaykh : What is it? Did I understand your question correctly?
The questioner : Tayammum? The Messenger (peace be upon him) wiped the wall. Tayammum means without wudu' and without ghusl. Is this a specific privilege for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not a specific privilege.
The questioner : Or is it a legislative ruling?
The Shaykh : It is a legislative ruling. The original principle regarding all the actions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) is that they are to be followed,[Al-Ahzab 33:21] except where there is clear and explanatory evidence that what he (peace be upon him) did, or what he was permitted to do, is a matter specific to him. This is not of that category. Rather, there are different levels for one who is in a state of janabah and wants to sleep. The best is that he does not sleep until he has performed ghusl. If he is lazy and sluggish and does not feel like performing ghusl, he descends to the level of wudu' and performs wudu'. If he also does not feel like performing wudu', he performs tayammum, as the Messenger (peace be upon him) did. And if he does not do that, he may sleep while in a state of janabah, because it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) slept while in a state of janabah and woke up in the morning and performed ghusl. But the first is the best, and the last is below all the other ranks.
The Shaykh : What is it? Did I understand your question correctly?
The questioner : Tayammum? The Messenger (peace be upon him) wiped the wall. Tayammum means without wudu' and without ghusl. Is this a specific privilege for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not a specific privilege.
The questioner : Or is it a legislative ruling?
The Shaykh : It is a legislative ruling. The original principle regarding all the actions of the Messenger (peace be upon him) is that they are to be followed,
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern
لقد لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنة
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.