Hadeeth about Saarah in tyrant's palace authentic

11-10-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah. Shaykh, I came across a hadith in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari about Ibraaheem's (Abraham), peace be upon him, wife Sarah. As seen here: https://islamweb.net/ehajj/article/108801/the-story-of-prophet-ibraheem-i
Allah made the tyrant king's hand rigid before he could take hold of her. Some quote that she performed ablution and supplicated twice. My doubts are regarding the ablution which makes me doubt the accuracy of the hadith. The hadith goes as follows:
Allah's Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
"(Prophet) Ibraaheem migrated with his wife Sarah till he reached a town where there was a king or a tyrant, who sent a message, to Ibraaheem, ordering him to send Sarah to him. So when Ibraaheem had sent Sarah, the tyrant got up, intending to do evil with her, but she got up and performed ablution and prayed and said, 'O Allah! If I have believed in You and in Your Apostle, then do not empower this oppressor over me,' so he (the king) had an epileptic fit and started moving his legs violently." [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari 6950]
My doubts are regarding the ablution which she performed, as to how she managed to find water in the tyrant king's home or palace, which was protected by the king's guards. May Allah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The hadeeth in reference is authentic, and there is no doubt about its authenticity. What you find doubtful is, in fact, not problematic at all. Why would it not be possible that water was available in the place where Saarah (Sarah) was? As long as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stated that she performed ablution and prayed, as related in the authentic hadeeth, then it is certain that she did so.

Allah knows best.