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English translation
529. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “A Bedouin entered the mosque when the
Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was sitting there, and (the man) said: 'O Allāh, forgive me and Muhammad, and do not forgive anyone else with us.' The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ smiled and said: 'You have placed restrictions on something that is vast.' Then the Bedouin turned away, went to a corner of the mosque, spread his legs and began to urinate. After he had a better understanding, the Bedouin said: 'He got up and came to me, and may my father and mother be ransomed for him, he did not rebuke me nor revile me. He said: "This mosque is not for urinating in. Rather it is built for the remembrance of Allāh and prayer.'" Then he called for a large vessel of water and poured it over the place where he had urinated.' (Hasan)
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Commentary
Even a big mistake by a person ignorant of the laws of Shari'ah should be tolerated and he should be politely told that what he had done was not proper.
The Prophet ﷺ allowed the Bedouin to complete his urination in the mosque because he had already started doing it. Had the man been stopped in the middle, it would have caused harm to his body system, or else he would start running away in panic, and the drops of urine would have defiled not only a considerable part of the mosque but also his own body and clothes.
The Prophet ﷺ drew the attention of the Bedouin to the mistake he had committed in his supplication to Allāh, although the mistake was the result of his excessive love and reverence for the Prophet ﷺ.
The mosque must be kept free from all kinds of trash and impurities.
In order to remedy the defilement of an unmettled piece of earth caused by somebody's urine, it is enough to pour a bucket of water over the place. Thus, once the earth absorbs the water and the remains of the urine, it shall regain its purity.
