Moreover, Abraham and the prophets after him used to circumambulate without ablution, just as they prayed without ablution. Their law is our law except where it has been abrogated. We have been commanded to perform ablution for prayer, but ablution has not been made obligatory for us for anything else. Likewise, the earth has been made a place of prayer and a means of purification for us: wherever a Muslim is when prayer falls due, he has his place of prayer and his means of purification. Even if he is in a state of major ritual impurity, he may perform dry ablution and pray.

Those before us did not have this concession. Rather, they were prohibited from praying in a state of major ritual impurity until they bathed, just as someone in that state is prohibited from remaining in the mosque and reciting the Quran. Someone in a state of minor ritual impurity, however, may remain in the mosque, whether observing a devotional retreat or not, and may recite the Quran.

What is reported from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) concerning this prostration is a single declaration of “Allah is Greatest,” for he was not moving from one act of worship to another.