the bucket and drank while standing. The correct position on this matter is that drinking while standing is prohibited, but permissible when a valid excuse prevents one from sitting. This reconciles the hadiths on the subject. Allah knows best (1).
When he drank, he would pass the vessel to the person on his right, even if an older person was seated on his left (2).
Section
The Prophet’s guidance concerning marriage and his conduct with his wives, may Allah bless him and grant him peace
It is authentically reported from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Of the things of your world, women and perfume have been made dear to me, and prayer has been made my greatest delight” (3).
This is the wording of the hadith. Whoever narrates it as “Three things from your world have been made dear to me” has made an error (4). He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not say “three,” and prayer is not among the worldly matters described as belonging to them.
(1) This issue will be discussed again in volume 4 (p. 329).
(2) See the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa‘d in Sahīh al-Bukhārī (5620).
(3) Reported by Ahmad (12294), al-Nasā’ī in al-Mujtabā (3939, 3940) and al-Kubrā (8836, 8837), and al-Hākim (2/160), through two chains from Thābit, from Anas. Al-Hākim graded it authentic, and al-Diyā’ included it in his selection (4/427; 5/112–113). Al-‘Uqaylī stated in al-Du‘afā’ (2/587) that it was transmitted through several routes containing some weakness. It was also transmitted from Thābit in mursal form; al-Dāraqutnī preferred this version in al-‘Ilal (2385).
(4) Al-Hāfiz said in al-Talkhīs al-Habīr (5/2155): “It has become widely quoted with the addition ‘three’ … Yet we have not found the word ‘three’ in any of its versions transmitted with a chain of narration.” He added in Takhrīj al-Kashshāf: “Adding it distorts the meaning.” Al-Sakhāwī said in al-Maqāsid al-Hasana (380): “I have encountered it only in two places in al-Ihyā’ and in the commentary on Surah Āl ‘Imrān in al-Kashshāf. I have not seen it in any of this hadith’s transmission routes, despite extensive searching …”