Al-Jīlī and others, when discussing the various categories of clothing, wrote: “Among the garments that are disliked are those that diverge from the Arabs’ attire and resemble the dress and customs of non-Arabs.” ʿAbd al-Qādir’s exact wording is:
“It is disliked to wear anything that departs from the Arab style and imitates the clothing of foreign peoples.”
The Ḥanbalī scholars and others—including Abū al-Ḥasan al-Āmidī, known as Ibn al-Baghdādī (and, as I believe, citing it from Abū ʿAbd Allāh Ibn Ḥāmid)—also said: “It is not disliked to wash one’s hands in the very vessel from which one has eaten, because the Prophet ﷺ did so. Aḥmad explicitly affirmed this, saying: ‘The scholars have always practiced it; we do it ourselves. Only the common people find it objectionable.’” Washing the hands after eating is an established Sunnah according to the sole narrated opinion.
If a basin is brought for washing the hands, it should not be removed until everyone present has washed, for removing it prematurely is a foreign custom. Shaykh Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlī likewise stated: “It is recommended that the water used for washing the hands be collected in a basin.”
(1) ʿAbd al-Qadir ibn Abi Salih ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Jili—later al-Baghdadi—was a pious Hanbali jurist, preacher, and ascetic. He was born in 490/1097 and died in 561/1166. Although some authentic karamat (miraculous favors) are related about him, Sufi writers have exaggerated them, inventing tales that the Sharia does not endorse, that conflict with sound belief, and that infringe upon tawhid. Such reports are sheer fabrication, a familiar practice when Sufis venerate a figure. See: al-Dhayl ʿala Tabaqat al-Hanabila, 1:290-301.
(2) al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq by ʿAbd al-Qadir al-Jilani, p. 28.
(3) See: al-Mughni and al-Sharh al-Kabir, 8/120 (under al-Mughni).
(4) The printed edition reads aydeehim (“their hands”). The sense is that he leaves the vessel in place until everyone has washed his hands in it.
(5) MS B reads: wa-li-dhalik (“and for that reason”).
(6) MS Ot reads: al-aydi (“the hands”).
(7) MSS B, J, and D, as well as the printed edition, read tist (with s), while MS Ot has tisht (with sh). Both forms are acceptable Arabic and are loanwords. See: al-Qamus al-Muhit, letter ta, section ta, 1:158. A tist is a large round copper basin used for washing; see: al-Muʿjam al-Wasit, 2:563.