Urwah says that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "The fast of a person who is in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) in the morning is not valid." Once, Marwan bin Hakam sent me with a man to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) to ask: "If a person enters the morning in Ramadan in a state of major ritual impurity and has not yet performed ghusl (ritual bath), what is the ruling?" Both of them replied: "Sometimes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would enter the morning in a state of major ritual impurity, not due to a wet dream but by choice, and he would complete his fast." We both returned and informed Marwan of this. Marwan told me to convey this to Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Fadl bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) had informed me of this, but those two ladies know better."