66 – Talq ibn ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “A man asked, ‘I have touched my private part’—or he said, ‘If a man touches his private part while praying—must he perform wudu?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘No. It is only a part of your own body.’” It was recorded by the Five, and Ibn Ḥibbān declared it sound. Ibn al-Madīnī said, “It is stronger than the ḥadīth of Busrah.”

Hadith grading
This ḥadīth is authentic. Al-Talkhīṣ states that it was transmitted by Aḥmad, the compilers of the Sunan, and al-Dāraquṭnī. Ibn al-Madīnī remarked, “In our view it is superior to the report of Busrah.” Al-Ṭaḥāwī said, “Its chain is straight and free of instability, unlike the report of Busrah.” It was also judged authentic by Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Ṭabarānī, and Ibn Ḥazm, whereas al-Shāfiʿī, Abū Ḥātim, Abū Zurʿah, al-Dāraquṭnī, al-Bayhaqī, and Ibn al-Jawzī considered it weak. Ibn Ḥibbān explained the reasons for this difference.

Glossary of terms
• “I touched my private part”: i.e., I placed my hand upon it.
• “Must he…?”: the initial hamzah introduces a yes/no question, hence the Prophet ﷺ answered “No.”
• “It is only a part of you”: a rationale showing that touching one’s own private part does not invalidate wudu.
• “innamā”: the particle inna adds emphasis by putting the subject in the accusative and the predicate in the nominative, while the attached mā restricts the meaning, producing the sense of exclusivity.