and concluded that purification with earth was like purification with water. He therefore rolled about on the ground as an animal does, so that the earth would cover his body just as water would have had to cover it, and then prayed. Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—however, did not pray.

Then they came to the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—who showed them the correct practice. He said to Ammār, “All you needed to do was this with your hands.” He then struck the ground once with both hands, passed his left hand over his right, and wiped the backs of his hands and his face.

Ammār—may Allah be pleased with him—used to narrate this hadith both during Umar’s caliphate and before it. One day, however, Umar summoned him and asked, “What is this hadith that you are narrating?” Ammār told him about it, saying, “Do you not remember when the Messenger of Allah sent us on an errand and we both entered a state of major ritual impurity? You did not pray, while I rolled about on the ground. The Prophet said, ‘All you needed to do was such-and-such.’” But Umar did not recall it and said, “Fear Allah, Ammār.” Ammār replied, “If you wish, because of what Allah has enjoined upon me