English Translation

Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi told us: Sufyan told us, from Salamah - meaning Ibn Kuhayl - from Abu Malik and Abdullah ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Abza, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abza, who said: We were with Umar when a man came to him and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, we sometimes go a month or two without finding water." Umar said: "As for me, I would not pray until I found water." Ammar said: "O Commander of the Faithful, do you remember when we were at such-and-such a place, grazing the camels, and you know that we fell into major ritual impurity?" He said: "Yes." He said: "I rolled myself in the dust, then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him, and he laughed and said: 'The clean earth would have sufficed you,' and he struck the ground with his palms, then blew into them, then wiped his face and part of his forearms with them." He said: "Fear Allah, O Ammar." He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, if you wish, I will not mention it as long as I live." He said: "No, by Allah - rather, we entrust you with whatever responsibility you took upon yourself."