the hadith in the Sahīh narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās, who said:

“We were with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he returned from relieving himself. Food was brought to him, and he was asked, ‘Will you not perform ablution?’ He replied, ‘I am not about to pray, so why should I perform ablution?’”

This rules out ablution being obligatory, as well as any command to perform it merely for the sake of eating. We know of no one who recommended ablution for eating unless a person is in a state of janābah (major ritual impurity). Scholars differed over whether washing the hands before eating is disliked or recommended. These are two positions, both reported from Ahmad. Those who recommended it cited the hadith of Salmān, in which he said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“I read in the Torah that washing the hands before and after a meal is among the means of bringing blessing to it.”

Those who disliked it said that it was contrary to the established practice of the Muslims, who did not wash their hands before eating. Rather, this was a Jewish practice, and imitating them is disliked.

As for Salmān’s hadith, some scholars have graded it as weak. It may also be said that this took place in the early days of Islam, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, liked to follow the practice of the People of the Book in matters concerning which he had received no command. For this reason, he used to leave his hair unparted in conformity with them, but later parted it. For the same reason, he fasted on ‘Āshūrā’ when he arrived in Medina. Then, before his death, he said:

“If I live until next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth.”

He meant alongside the tenth, in order to differ from the Jews.