are mentioned in the verse, whereas sleep is not itself a state of ritual impurity but a cause of it. It is therefore preferable to understand the wording as conveying an additional meaning rather than as mere repetition serving no purpose.
Another view is that the wording is not unrestricted in commanding everyone who rises for prayer to perform ablution, and that ablution was once obligatory for every prayer, but Allah abrogated this through the Prophet’s practice, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on the day of the conquest of Mecca, easing the burden on His servants. This accords with the position of those who permit the Quran to be abrogated by the Sunnah, a matter over which there is disagreement. Understanding the hadith as clarifying the Quran, in accordance with Zayd ibn Aslam’s interpretation, is preferable to understanding it as abrogation, since abrogation applies only where texts conflict. Allah, glorified is He, knows best.
It is related that ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah Most High be pleased with him, would perform ablution for every prayer and then recite:
“O you who believe, when you rise for prayer” [al-Mā’idah: 6].
According to his view, everyone rising for prayer must perform ablution, in keeping with the apparent meaning of the verse; the hadith had not reached him. Allah knows best. It is also possible that he performed ablution for every prayer because of the thorough performance of ablution that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had specially enjoined upon his household. It is related that Ibn ʿAbbās said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, singled us out only in three matters: performing ablution thoroughly, not consuming charity, and not mating male donkeys with mares.”
It is also related that whenever the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered a state of ritual impurity, he would not speak to anyone until he had performed ablution as he would for prayer. Allah then abrogated this and commanded purification when rising for prayer. This, in turn, was abrogated through his practice on the day of the conquest of Mecca. Some scholars said that everyone rising for prayer should perform ablution to seek additional merit, thus understanding the verse as a recommendation.
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The meaning of His words, Most High,
“When you rise for prayer” [al-Mā’idah: 6],
is: when you intend to rise for prayer. The wording itself indicates this. A similar expression occurs in the words of Allah, mighty and majestic is He:
“So when you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed” [al-Nahl: 98],
meaning: when you intend to recite the Quran. What is meant is not standing as opposed to sitting; rather, it means when you set about prayer