Compiled by Imam Abu Dawud as-Sijistani
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُهَاجِرٍ - عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ شَيْبَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ أَسْمَاءَ، سَأَلَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ " فِرْصَةً مُمَسَّكَةً " . قَالَتْ كَيْفَ أَتَطَهَّرُ بِهَا قَالَ " سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ تَطَهَّرِي بِهَا وَاسْتَتِرِي بِثَوْبٍ " . وَزَادَ وَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنِ الْغُسْلِ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ فَقَالَ " تَأْخُذِينَ مَاءَكِ فَتَطَهَّرِينَ أَحْسَنَ الطُّهُورِ وَأَبْلَغَهُ ثُمَّ تَصُبِّينَ عَلَى رَأْسِكِ الْمَاءَ ثُمَّ تَدْلُكِينَهُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ شُئُونَ رَأْسِكِ ثُمَّ تُفِيضِينَ عَلَيْكِ الْمَاءَ " . قَالَ وَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ نِعْمَ النِّسَاءُ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْنَعُهُنَّ الْحَيَاءُ أَنْ يَسْأَلْنَ عَنِ الدِّينِ وَيَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِيهِ .
Asma' asked the Prophet (ﷺ) and then narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect. He (the Prophet) said: "a musk-scented piece of cloth." She (Asma') said: How should I purify with it ? He said: By glory of Allah ! Purify with it, and he covered his face with the cloth. This version also adds: "She asked about the washing because of sexual defilement." He said: Take your water and purify yourself as best as possible. Then pour water over yourself. 'Aishah said: The best of the women are the women of the Ansar. Shyness would not prevent them from inquiring about religion and from acquiring deep understanding in it.