Question:
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has advised not to sleep with dirty hands (Abu Dawud)
What is the wording of this Hadith and is it authentic?
Answer:
You are probably referring to the the following Hadith:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whomsoever goes to sleep with [the smell of meat/fat or some left over food/dirt] on his hands, does not wash his hands and is harmed by some [insect/pest] then he only has himself to blame.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 3848. Refer: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 8548. Also see: Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1859-1860)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared the chain of Abu Dawud authentic in accordance to the standard of Imam Muslim.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5457, vol. 9 pg. 579)
Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has recorded the Hadith with slight variation in the wording and has declared the Hadith authentic (sahih).
(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5521)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar