1/44. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 89 — Prayer, Food, and Distraction
Should A Person Offer Salat When He Fees to Urge To Relieve Himself
Hadith About Prayer in the Presence of Food
Sunan Abi Dawud : 89
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 89
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَزْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، - قَالَ ابْنُ عِيسَى فِي حَدِيثِهِ ابْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا أَخُو الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ - قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ فَجِيءَ بِطَعَامِهَا فَقَامَ الْقَاسِمُ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يُصَلَّى بِحَضْرَةِ الطَّعَامِ وَلاَ وَهُوَ يُدَافِعُهُ الأَخْبَثَانِ " .
'Abd Allaah b. Muhammad Narrated from:
We were in the company of 'Aishah. When her food was brought in, al-Qasim stood up to say his prayer. Thereupon, 'Aishah said : I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: Prayer should not be offered in presence of meals, nor at the moment when one is struggling with two evils (e.g. when one is feeling the call of nature.)
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 89In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 89English translation : Book 1, Hadith 89
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 89
This hadith about prayer in the presence of food teaches that worship should not be performed while a person is strongly distracted. Aishah said that she heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say that prayer should not be offered when meals are present, nor when a person is struggling with the two calls of nature. The report came when food was brought and al-Qasim stood up to pray. Aishah reminded him of the Prophet’s words. The core teaching is simple: do not begin prayer while food is present in a way that distracts you, or while you are resisting a bodily need.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer should not be offered while food is present in the situation described.
- A person should not pray while struggling with the call of nature.
- Removing strong distractions helps a person approach prayer with better attention.
