4/10. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 761 — Mosque Cleanliness and Spitting Etiquette
Repugnance Of Spitting In The Mosque
Mosque Cleanliness: Spitting Etiquette in Islam
Sunan Ibn Majah : 761
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 761
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْعُثْمَانِيُّ أَبُو مَرْوَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَأَبِي، سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ أَنَّهُمَا أَخْبَرَاهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَأَى نُخَامَةً فِي جِدَارِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَتَنَاوَلَ حَصَاةً فَحَكَّهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِذَا تَنَخَّمَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَتَنَخَّمَنَّ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ وَلاَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَبْزُقْ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ أَوْ تَحْتَ قَدَمِهِ الْيُسْرَى " .
Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah saw some sputum on the wall of the mosque. He picked up a stone and scraped it off, then he said, "If anyone of you needs to spit, he should not spit in front of him or to his right; let him spit to his right; let him spit to his left or under his left foot."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 761In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 27English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 761
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 761
This Hadith teaches clear mosque cleanliness and prayer etiquette. The Messenger of Allah saw sputum on the mosque wall and did not leave it there. He scraped it off with a stone, showing that a mosque should be treated with care and respect. He then taught a simple rule: a person should not spit in front of himself or to his right. If there is a need, he should spit to the left or under the left foot. The main lesson is not only about removing dirt. It is about having manners in a place of worship. A Muslim should be aware of where he is, especially in the mosque, and avoid anything that dishonors the prayer space.
What we learn from this hadith
- Keep the mosque clean and remove what dirties it when possible.
- Do not spit toward the front or the right as stated in the Hadith.
- Use the left side or under the left foot if there is a need to spit.
- Good mosque manners show respect for prayer and worship.
