Is it from the Sunnah to wash the hands before and after eating?

The Shaykh : Yes, this is number two. What is number three?

The questioner : I learned long ago that it is from the Sunnah for one to wash his hands before and after eating. Some people said, "No, there is disagreement on this." One person said, "Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani ate at my place and did not wash his hands." ... So I ask: Is it washing the hands before eating?

The Shaykh : It is a recommended practice (sunnah) if there is dirt on your hand or hands. But let us suppose a scenario to help you understand the issue: You performed ablution here, stood up, and prayed here. Then the evening meal was served here, and you stood up to wash your hands. Why? Because washing the hands before eating is a recommended practice (sunnah)? This statement is incorrect. But you have been engaged in work with your hands, and there may be dust, decay, or something else on them. So you washed your hands. This falls under the category of cleanliness. This is prescribed, but it is not called a recommended practice (sunnah). Evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in the mosque when the prayer was called. He went out to the mosque to lead the people in prayer as imam. He passed by a pot containing meat, took a piece of it, ate it, and then led the people in prayer. What do you think?

Another questioner : No, there is no washing before it or after it.

The Shaykh : Absolutely not. To complete the benefit, we should mention that this alleged recommended practice (sunnah), like keeping the night of the middle of Sha'ban awake and fasting on the day of the middle of Sha'ban, is based on a weak hadith. All there is is that the hadith of Sha'ban is even weaker than this weak hadith. I am going to tell you about it now: This is a weak hadith, and it is not permissible to act upon it, as we said, because we are in no need of acting upon weak hadiths. Therefore, it is reported from some of the Salaf that they explicitly stated and declared the dislike (makruh) of washing the hands before eating, including Imam Sufyan al-Thawri. With this, we conclude the answers. But I have advice for you: Since you have a keenness for knowledge and you love those you think are people of knowledge, why do you not imitate the master of scholars, our Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?

The questioner : The army is forcing me, and it is the Civil Defense.

The Shaykh : No, they are not forcing you...

The questioner : So I am in firefighting and rescue.

The Shaykh : If you were forced by the system, and you let your beard grow for the sake of the thought of your Prophet (peace be upon him), which is a thought above all others, what would they do to you?

The questioner : You would be held accountable and beaten.

Another questioner : And they would shave it off against your will.

The Shaykh : What would they do to you? You would be beaten and put on trial. And more than that, they would hang you?

The questioner : No, prison.

The Shaykh : Well, hanging means killing, so they would kill you?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : They would not kill you. Well, where is the jihad in the path of Allah where we expose ourselves to death?

The questioner : May Allah will it for the best.

The Shaykh : If you are determined, then rely upon Allah... Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You...
Al-Halabi : ...twenty hadiths in Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim that they classify as rejected narrations.

The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar. I give this to your non-praiseworthy companion... See how it is.
Al-Halabi : Volume eighteen. It is the hadith of 'Imran ibn Husayn. The fatwas, explanation of the hadith of 'Imran.

The Shaykh : A hadith that is not clear, as if Abu Ghurrah is involved in it.
Al-Halabi : Al-'Ajali's investigations.

The Shaykh : Al-'Ajali. I have news that he is working on it.
Al-Halabi : The one working on arranging Ibn Hibban's al-Thiqat is al-Qal'aji. And I informed this person more than two years ago.

The Shaykh : Well, before you photograph it, can we look at this first part?
Al-Halabi : Do you want to see it now? There is no objection.

The Shaykh : No, not now. I want to take it with me when I have the opportunity.
Al-Halabi : When I have the opportunity.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. Hand me the pen.

The questioner : ... Companion, one hundred and thirty-seven; fourth edition.
Al-Halabi : And the explanation of the hadith of 'Imran is in volume eighteen.

The Shaykh : This volume eighteen, the fatwas, explanation of the hadith of 'Imran.

The questioner : We, who invited us, should alert our Shaykh to this matter, that if it was...The Shaykh : Nasir al-Albani understood this understanding, and you are going to say Hasan al-Saqaf did not understand this understanding.

The Shaykh : I did not understand this understanding. It is a new fabrication. We did not understand these words.

The questioner : That is how they say it.
Al-Halabi : May Allah reward you with good, our professor. We ask Allah for reward for you, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : Did you understand from him that he meant this?

The questioner : How did you understand? Did I make you understand that you understood this from the words of the Shaykh of Islam? But the most likely thing, based on my impression, is that...

Another questioner : You cut it off. You told him to stop here.
Al-Halabi : But they also cut me off.

Another questioner : So when he said the word...The Shaykh : Ali stopped him.
Another volume.