1/44. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 88 — Relieve Yourself Before Prayer
Should A Person Offer Salat When He Fees to Urge To Relieve Himself
Hadith About Relieving Oneself Before Congregational Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 88
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 88
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَرْقَمِ، أَنَّهُ خَرَجَ حَاجًّا أَوْ مُعْتَمِرًا وَمَعَهُ النَّاسُ وَهُوَ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَتَقَدَّمْ أَحَدُكُمْ . وَذَهَبَ إِلَى الْخَلاَءِ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ الْخَلاَءَ وَقَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِالْخَلاَءِ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى وُهَيْبُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ وَشُعَيْبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ وَأَبُو ضَمْرَةَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ وَالأَكْثَرُ الَّذِينَ رَوَوْهُ عَنْ هِشَامٍ قَالُوا كَمَا قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ .
Abdullah ibn al-Arqam Narrated from:
Urwah reported on the authority of his father that Abdullah ibn al-Arqam travelled for performing hajj (pilgrimage) or umrah. He was accompanied by the people whom he led in prayer. One day when he was leading them in the dawn (fajr) prayer, he said to them: One of you should come forward. He then went away to relieve himself. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When any of you feels the need of relieving himself while the congregational prayer is ready, he should go to relieve himself.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 88In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 88English translation : Book 1, Hadith 88
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 88
This hadith about relieving oneself before prayer gives a very practical lesson. Abdullah ibn al-Arqam was leading people in the dawn prayer during a journey for hajj or umrah. When the prayer was ready, he told one of them to come forward and lead. He then went to relieve himself. He explained that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say that when someone needs to go to the toilet while the congregational prayer is ready, he should begin with relieving himself. The hadith teaches prayer focus, personal need, and calm worship. It shows that prayer should not be entered while a person is struggling with that need.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person who needs to relieve himself should deal with that need before prayer.
- Someone else may come forward to lead when the current imam has a valid need.
- Prayer should be approached with calmness and attention.
