2/56. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 562 — Etiquette When Walking to the Mosque
The Etiquette Of Walking To The Masjid
Hadith About Mosque Etiquette After Ablution
Sunan Abi Dawud : 562
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 562
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَنْبَارِيُّ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو ثُمَامَةَ الْحَنَّاطُ، أَنَّ كَعْبَ بْنَ عُجْرَةَ، أَدْرَكَهُ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الْمَسْجِدَ أَدْرَكَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ قَالَ فَوَجَدَنِي وَأَنَا مُشَبِّكٌ بِيَدَىَّ فَنَهَانِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَامِدًا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَلاَ يُشَبِّكَنَّ يَدَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ فِي صَلاَةٍ " .
Ka'b bin 'Ujrah Narrated from:
AbuThumamah al-Hannat said that Ka'b ibn Ujrah met him while he was going to the mosque; one of the two (companions) met his companion (on his way to the mosque) And he met crossing the fingers of my both hands. He prohibited me to do so, and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has said: If any of you performs ablution, and performs his ablution perfectly, and then goes out intending for the mosque, he should not cross the fingers of his hand because he is already in prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 562In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 172English translation : Book 2, Hadith 562
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 562
This hadith about mosque etiquette teaches that preparation for prayer begins before reaching the masjid. A person performs ablution well, leaves with the intention of going to the mosque, and should not cross the fingers of the hands. The reason given is simple: such a person is already in prayer. This does not mean the prayer has started in the normal form, but the hadith treats the walk to the mosque with honor and care. The focus is on calm behavior, clean preparation, and respect for worship. It also shows that small actions, like interlacing the fingers, can be avoided when someone is on the way to salah with a serious and prayerful state.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good ablution is part of proper preparation for going to the mosque.
- A person walking to the mosque with the intention of prayer should keep a prayerful manner.
- The hadith specifically tells such a person not to cross the fingers of the hands.
