The Sunnah contains the command to perform wudu for one who wishes to sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity, and it is also reported of him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to strike his hand against the wall when

The questioner : A man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about sleeping while in a state of major ritual impurity, so he commanded him to perform wudu. In the authentic comprehensive collection, it is stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was in a state of major ritual impurity, would wipe his hands on the wall. Is this a specific attribute of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or is it a general legislation?

The Shaykh : What is this?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : No, I understood, but the question.

The questioner : But my question is... the wall, tayammum, meaning without wudu and without ghusl, is it a specific attribute of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or is it legislation for everyone?

The Shaykh : It is legislation. The original principle regarding all the actions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is that they are to be followed except where clear and explicit evidence indicates that what he (peace and blessings be upon him) did, or what he was permitted to do, is specific to him. This is not of that nature. Rather, there are conditions for one who is in a state of major ritual impurity and wishes to sleep, and they have degrees. 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 degree of wudu and performs wudu. If he also does not feel like performing wudu, he performs tayammum as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did. If he does not do that, he may sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity, because it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) slept while in a state of major ritual impurity and woke up in the morning and performed ghusl. However, the first is the best, and the last is below all the other ranks.