He therefore kept apart and did not pray with us. When the prayer was over the Prophet ﷺ asked,

“O so-and-so, what prevented you from praying with us?”

He replied, “I was overtaken by a state of major ritual impurity.” The Prophet ﷺ told him to perform dry ablution with clean earth, after which he prayed.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then placed me in front of him on his mount. We were suffering from intense thirst. While we were travelling with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we suddenly came upon a woman riding with her legs dangling between two large water-skins.

We said to her, “Where is the water?”

She answered, “There is no water.”

We asked, “How far is it between your people and the water?”

She said, “A day and a night’s journey.”

We said, “Come with us to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

She asked, “And who is the Messenger of Allah?” We would not let her go until we had brought her to the Prophet ﷺ. We told him what she had told us and added that she was a widow caring for orphan children. He ordered that her two water-skins be brought; he passed his hand over the two openings, and forty thirsty men drank until they were satisfied. We also filled every water-skin and small flask we had with us—though we did not give any of it to the camels—and still the two skins were so full that water was almost seeping out of them.

Then he said, “Bring whatever food you have.” We gathered for her pieces of bread and some dates, and she returned to her people with them.

She said, “I have met the most skilful magician among mankind—or else he is truly a prophet, as they claim.” Through that woman Allah guided that whole clan; she embraced Islam and they embraced Islam as well.

Muslim transmits this report too, through the chain of Salm ibn Zurayr, and both al-Bukhārī and Muslim relate it through ʿAwf al-Aʿrābī, from Abū Rajāʾ al-ʿAṭāridī (whose name is ʿImrān ibn Taym), from ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn.

In one wording he said to her, “Take this food to your family, and know that we have not diminished your water in the least; Allah alone gave us to drink.” That version also mentions that when he opened the two water-skins he pronounced the name of Allah, Might and Majestic.

A ḥadīth from Abū Qatādah on the same theme:

Imām Aḥmad said: Yazīd ibn Hārūn related to us; Ḥammād ibn Salamah related to us; from Thābit; from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Rabāḥ; from Abū Qatādah, who said:

“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a journey. He said,

‘If you do not reach water tomorrow you will suffer great thirst.’

Some of the faster riders hastened ahead in search of water, while I stayed close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His mount began to sway and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became drowsy. I supported him and he steadied; then he swayed again and I supported him; then he swayed once more until he was almost thrown from his mount, and I supported him and he awoke.

He said, ‘Who is that?’

I replied, ‘Abū Qatādah.’

He asked, ‘How long have you been riding?’

I said, ‘Since last night.’

He said, ‘May Allah protect you as you have protected His Messenger.’ Then he added, ‘Let us halt here for a while and rest.’”