Muslims, what does this passage from the Hadith mean?

Question

Angels stop asking Allah to forgive people when they pass wind.
Allah's Apostle said, "The angels keep on asking Allah's forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Mu,salla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, 'O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him." - Volume 1, Book 8, Number 436: Narrated Abu Huraira:
When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah's forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: 'O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind. (See Hadith No. 620). - Volume 1, Book 8, Number 466: Narrated Abu Huraira:

Answer 1

It means that until one breaks the Wudoo (purity acheived by ablution), and waits for prayer in the mosque, the angels of peace keep praying for them.

Answer 2

It is aimed at guiding/teaching Muslims to preferably remain under wuzzoo (or ablution) while in mosques to offer prayers.

Answer 3

Wudhu (Ablution for Prayer)

http://www.islam.com/salat/wudhu.htm


The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,
"WUDHU is the key to prayer as prayer is the key to Paradise. ISLAM lays extreme stress on cleanliness and "TAHARAT".

As external actions have deep impact upon internal feelings, such as artificial crying makes a person sad as well as artificial laughter makes one happy so is cleanliness and ablution.

Purified body lends to purity of mind, however, cleanliness which is ablution, or wudhu, has been made compulsory before each prayer and in certain cases even a full bath has been made obligatory before prayer.

PHILOSOPHY OF WUDHU
A Muslim is required to perform ablution (Wudhu) before Salat. Ablution prepares one mentally for Salat and it also helps concentration in prayer. It is essential to wash or moisturize these parts of the body to generate concentration because the dispersion of thoughts is due to the keenness of the body's five senses. The centers of the five senses are the eyes, ears, nose mouth, hands and feet. It has been proven from the expertise of neurologists that the chain of thought can be rerouted by cooling fingers of the hands and feet. They also say that concentration of thoughts can be achieved by cooling the nerv-ends. That is the Philosophy of Wudhu. A Mulim stands before his Creator by cooling nerve-ends of his body with Wudhu water and concentrating all his thoughts for the worship of the All-Mighty.

In Wudhu, we wash or moisturize the nerve-ends of the hands, feet, hair, mouth, nose and ears. All the main nerve-ends of the body are touched in Wudhu in one way or another. Perfect concentration of thoughts to create the proper worshipping atmosphere is thus attained.

As we learn from everyday experience that a person who has fainted can be brought back to his consc iousness by sprinkling water on his face, hands and feet which clearly proves our theory. That is why a Muslim is expected to achieve his external as well as internal consciousness by performing Wudhu.

Cleanliness and dirt are not compatible. Allah is clean and whosoever loves Him must be clean, externally as well as internally. Prayer, which is contact with Allah, is therefore unacceptable unless the person, who wants to contact his Lord, is clean. The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,
"The prayer of a person who does "HADATH" (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs or repeats Wudhu, the ablution."

Because the Muslim Ummah is expected to be the cleanest by performing ablution at least five times a day, the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) therefore, gave glad tidings that "On the day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Ghurrul Muhajjaleen" the bright armed and bright faced, from the traces of ablution on them. Therefore, whosoever can increase the area of his radiance should try to do so by always performing ablution before the prayers. (Bukhari, Kitabul Wudhu).


PERFORMANCE OF WUDHU
Washing the hands three times up to the wrist; the right hand first and then the left and wash them in such a way that no spot is left dry;
Rinsing and gargling the mouth three times;
Washing the nose into three times;
Washing the face beginning from the forehead to the bottom of the chin, three times;
Washing the forearms including the elbows three times;
Wiping wet hands over the head from front down to the neck, then running the thumbs around the ears and wiping the inside;
Wiping the neck with the back of wet hands;
Washing the feet including the ankles three times. The right foot first and then the left unless socks are worn.


In case if the socks are put on after an ABLUTION (WUDHU) is made, then during the next 24 hours, it is enough to pass wet fingers over them in making an ABLUTION instead of having to wash the feet each time, provided these have not been taken off during this period of time. If someone on journey, the traveler can make MASSAH i.e. passing wet fingers over socks up to three days.
The following things lapse or brake the Wudhu

Answering the call of nature
Passing the water
Passing the wind
Sleeping or dozing off while leaning against a support
Unconsciousness
Injury
Drawing blood
Vomiting

Answer 4

They did not have "beano" back then bro. hehe

Answer 5

SFNDX is correct. ditto.