Asma asking a question she was too shy to finish
He answered twice and covered his face the second time.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ تَطَهَّرِي بِهَا وَاسْتَتِرِي بِثَوْبٍ
Subḥāna-Llāh. Taṭahharī bihā wa-statirī bi-thawb
“Glory be to Allah. Purify yourself with it, and screen yourself with a cloth.”
Where this comes from
Asma asked about washing and he told her to use a scented piece of cloth. She asked how. He said subḥānallāh and told her again, and covered his face. Aisha's comment on the whole exchange closes it: what excellent women the women of the Ansar were, shyness never stopped them learning their religion.
The full narration
Aishah said:Asma' asked the Prophet (ﷺ) and then narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect. He (the Prophet) said: "a musk-scented piece of cloth." She (Asma') said: How should I purify with it ? He said: By glory of Allah ! Purify with it, and he covered his face with the cloth. This version also adds: "She asked about the washing because of sexual defilement." He said: Take your water and purify yourself as best as possible. Then pour water over yourself. 'Aishah said: The best of the women are the women of the Ansar. Shyness would not prevent them from inquiring about religion and from acquiring deep understanding in it
Source
Sunan Abī Dāwūd · 316
- Al-Albani: Hasan
- Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Hasan
- Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih