Sayyiduna Sahl Ansari رضي الله عنه, who lived during the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and was fifteen years old in the blessed era of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, says that Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه narrated to me: The fatwa that the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم used to give was that "water is due to water"—ghusl becomes obligatory upon the emission of semen. In the beginning of Islam, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had granted concession regarding this, but later the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered to perform ghusl. Imam Abu Bakr رحمه الله narrates from his teacher Ahmad bin Mani' رحمه الله, with his chain, from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه that he said: "Water is due to water." This fatwa was a concession in the beginning of Islam, then it was prohibited. The Imam mentions another chain as well.

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Ansar Companions used to give the fatwa that (the ritual) bath (ghusl) becomes obligatory due to (the emission of) water (semen). This was a concession in the early days of Islam, then we were commanded to perform ghusl. Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that in his narration, Muhammad bin Ja’far has said: «‏‏‏‏اخبرني سهل بن سعد» ‏‏‏‏“Sahl bin Sa’d narrated to me.”I have some doubt in my heart about this wording; I fear that this is a mistake of Muhammad bin Ja’far or of a narrator below him (i.e., Imam Zuhri does not narrate this directly from Sahl, but there is a teacher between them). Because Ibn Wahb narrated from Amr bin Harith, and he from Imam Zuhri, so he said: «‏‏‏‏اخبرني من ارضي عن سهل بن سعد عن ابي بن كعب» ‏‏‏‏“My preferred teacher narrated to me from Sahl bin Sa’d, and he from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him).”The Imam says that this narration was related to me by Ahmad bin Abdur Rahman bin Wahb from his uncle, and he from Amr. And Amr bin Harith did not mention the name of the person in his chain (and referred to him as his preferred person); it is possible that he is Abu Hazim Salamah bin Dinar. Because Maisarah bin Isma’il narrated this hadith from Ghassan Muhammad bin Mutarrif, and he from Abu Hazim, and he from Sahl bin Sa’d, and he from Muslim bin Hajjaj. He says that Abu Ja’far Hammal narrated to us.