2/26. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 481 — Respecting the Qiblah in Prayer
Spitting In A Masjid Is Disliked
Hadith About Spitting Toward the Qiblah and Mosque Etiquette
Sunan Abi Dawud : 481
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 481
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ سَوَادَةَ الْجُذَامِيِّ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَيْوَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَهْلَةَ السَّائِبِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ، - قَالَ أَحْمَدُ - مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَمَّ قَوْمًا فَبَصَقَ فِي الْقِبْلَةِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَنْظُرُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ فَرَغَ " لاَ يُصَلِّي لَكُمْ " . فَأَرَادَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ لَهُمْ فَمَنَعُوهُ وَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نَعَمْ " . وَحَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " إِنَّكَ آذَيْتَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ " .
AbuSahlah as-Sa'ib ibn Khallad Narrated from:
A man led the people in prayer. He spat towards qiblah while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was looking at him. The Messenger of Allah said to the people when he finished his prayer: He should not lead you in prayer (henceforth). Thenceforth he intended to lead them in prayer, but they forbade him and informed him of the prohibition of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who said to him: Yes. The narrator said: I think he (the Prophet) said: You did harm to Allah and His Apostle.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 481In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 91English translation : Book 2, Hadith 482
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 481
This hadith about spitting toward the qiblah teaches strong respect for prayer and the direction faced in salah. A man was leading people in prayer, but he spat toward the qiblah while the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was watching. After the prayer, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told the people that this man should not lead them in prayer again. The message is clear and serious: leadership in prayer is not only about standing in front. It also needs proper manners, care, and respect. The phrase about causing harm to Allah and His Messenger shows how wrong this action was. For anyone searching for a hadith about mosque etiquette, this narration highlights the need to honor the qiblah and avoid actions that show carelessness during worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person leading prayer should show clear respect for the qiblah.
- Bad manners during prayer can affect a person’s role as an imam.
- The mosque and prayer space should be treated with care and honor.
- Actions done in prayer matter, especially when they disrespect the direction of worship.
