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