except that every believing servant who affirms them will be screened from the Fire,” reported by al-Awzaʿi on his authority.

Salam ibn Zurayr said, “I heard Abu Rajaʾ al-ʿAṭāridi relate that ʿImran ibn Husayn was once travelling with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They rode through the night, and just before dawn the Messenger of Allah ﷺ halted for a rest. Sleep overcame them until the sun had risen. The first to awaken was Abu Bakr; ʿUmar awoke next, sat by the Prophet’s head, and began proclaiming ‘Allahu akbar,’ raising his voice until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ awoke. When he saw that the sun had already come up, he said, ‘Break camp.’ He led us on until the sun was high and white; then he dismounted and led us in prayer. One man, however, remained apart and did not pray. When the Prophet ﷺ finished he asked, ‘So-and-so, what kept you from praying with us?’ He replied, ‘Messenger of Allah, I was in a state of janābah (major ritual impurity).’ The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to perform tayammum (dry ablution) with clean earth, after which he prayed.

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then placed me on a riding beast ahead of him to search for water, for we had grown extremely thirsty. As we travelled we came upon a woman sitting with her legs dangling between two large waterskins. We asked her, ‘Where is the water?’ She answered, ‘Ah! Ah!’ We said, ‘How far is it from your people to the water?’ She replied, ‘A day and a night’s journey.’ We said, ‘Come with us to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ She asked, ‘What is the Messenger of Allah?’ We could not compel her in any way until we brought her before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She told him that she was a bereaved woman caring for orphans. He ordered that her two waterskins be brought, and he put some of his saliva into the two upper openings. We—forty thirsty men—drank until we were fully satisfied, filled every waterskin and every flask we had, and washed our companion, while her own waterskins were almost overflowing with water. He then said, ‘Bring whatever provisions you have.’ We gathered broken pieces of bread and some dates until we had made a small bundle for her. He said, ‘Take this and feed your children, and know that we have not taken a drop of your water.’ When she returned