Is ablution (wudu) recommended for a person in a state of janabah before sleeping or eating?
Chapter on Ghusl from Janabah (Major Impurity)
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
Wudu is recommended. This is supported by the hadith where Umar asked the Prophet, peace be upon him, if one could sleep while in janabah, and the Prophet replied, "Yes, if he performs ablution," which is agreed upon (Muttafaq 'alayh). Furthermore, it is narrated from Abu Sa'id that the Prophet commanded, "If one of you approaches his family and then wishes to return (for intercourse), let him perform ablution," reported by Muslim. Aisha also narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to perform ablution before eating or sleeping while in janabah, reported by Abu Dawud. The opposing narration regarding the Prophet sleeping without touching water is reconciled by stating that the narrations indicating wudu point towards recommendation (istihbab), while the opposing narration permits the action (jawaz).
Supporting text
There is a dissenting report from Aisha, narrated via Abu Ishaq from Al-Aswad, stating the Prophet slept while in janabah without touching water. However, this specific narration is deemed erroneous by others who narrated from Al-Aswad (like Shu'bah and Ath-Thawri) stating that the Prophet performed wudu before sleeping. Ahmad considered Abu Ishaq to have erred in this specific narration compared to others.