26 – On the authority of Abū al-Samh (may Allah be pleased with him): the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “From a girl’s urine one must wash, whereas from a boy’s urine one merely sprinkles.” It was recorded by Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasāʾī, and al-Ḥākim authenticated it (1).
– Grading of the ḥadith:
The ḥadith is ṣaḥīḥ (sound).
Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar states in al-Talkhīṣ that its chain is sound; al-Bukhārī preferred its authenticity, as did al-Dārquṭnī. Al-Bayhaqī remarked: “When the supported reports distinguishing between the boy and the girl are combined, they become strong.”
This ḥadith was transmitted by Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, Ibn Mājah, Ibn Khuzaymah, and al-Ḥākim through the narration of Abū al-Samh.
In the Musnad of Imām Aḥmad (564) there is a marfūʿ report from ʿAlī with wording identical to that of Abū al-Samh: “The urine of a boy is sprinkled, and the urine of a girl is washed.” Its chain meets Muslim’s criteria.
Some critics judged ʿAlī’s report to be mawqūf or mursal, but this is of no consequence, for it has sound corroborating narrations. Al-Kattānī said: “These reports are mutawātir, related by fifteen Companions.” Among them is the narration found in al-Bukhārī (223) and Muslim (287) from Umm Qays bint Miḥṣan: she brought her infant son, who had not yet eaten solid food, to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He seated the child in his lap, and the boy urinated on his garment. The Prophet ﷺ called for water, sprinkled it over the spot, and did not wash it.
– Vocabulary of the ḥadith:
• Abū al-Samh: the sīn is pronounced with a fatḥah, the mīm is silent, and the word ends with an ḥāʾ. Al-Rāzī said: