What is the difference between protecting oneself and avoiding in the hadeeth .....?

Question

...about the two who were being punished in their graves?

In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it is narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by two graves, he said: “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something that was difficult to avoid,” or as he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said. Then he said, “No, one of them used not to protect himself from his urine, and the other used to walk around spreading malicious gossip.”

The same hadeeth is also narrated in Saheeh Muslim, and according to another version narrated by Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “… and the other one did not avoid urine.”

My question is:

What is meant by protecting himself and by avoiding? What is the difference between them? How can we reconcile these two reports?.

Answer 1

What is meant by the protecting and avoiding urine is that you do not urinate on yourself or have the urine splash on you when you urinate.  

Answer 2

Umm. Its not that different. Excuse me, sorry but just stay clean.

Avoid it as best you can as you know people my have incontinence.

And if your will is strong and you are healthy then completely protect yourself from filth and stay clean.

peace