102 – Abu Saʿīd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you has intercourse with his wife and then wishes to return to her, let him perform ablution between the two acts.” Muslim recorded it, and al-Ḥākim added, “for that is more invigorating for the return.” ⦗1⦘

The Four Sunan collections transmit from ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sleep while he was in a state of major impurity without touching water.” The isnād is defective. ⦗2⦘

Grades of the reports
The first report is in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, so no further discussion of its authenticity is needed.

As for the narration of the Four from ʿĀʾishah, the compiler judged it unsound because it is transmitted by Abū Isḥāq from al-Aswad, from ʿĀʾishah. Aḥmad said, “It is not authentic,” and Abū Dāwūd said, “Abū Isḥāq did not hear from al-Aswad.”

The compiler states in al-Talkhīṣ that Muslim cited the ḥadīth but without the words “and he did not touch water,” apparently omitting them deliberately. Mahnā related from Aḥmad ibn Ṣāliḥ that “it is impermissible to relate this ḥadīth.” Ibn Mafūz said, “The ḥadīth scholars unanimously agree that the error lies with Abū Isḥāq.” Ibn Ḥajar comments, “He overstated the claim of unanimity, for al-Bayhaqī declared it authentic.”

Al-Tirmidhī said, “Even if the report were sound, it should be understood to mean that he did not touch the water of a full ritual bath.”

With al-Tirmidhī’s interpretation, the report accords with the authentic narrations in the two Ṣaḥīḥs that explicitly state the Prophet ﷺ would perform ablution before sleeping, eating, drinking, or engaging in intercourse.