4/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 501b — Praying Toward a Spear
The Sutrah (Screen) For One Who Is Praying, And The Recommendation To Pray Facing A Sutrah. The Ruling On Passing In Front Of One Who Is Praying, And Preventing One Who Wants To Pass In Front. It Is Permissible To Lie Down In Front Of One Who Is Praying, Praying Towards One's Mount. The Command To Stand Close To The Sutrah. The Height Of The Suirah, And Related Matters
Praying Toward a Sutrah: Hadith About the Prophet’s Spear
Sahih Muslim : 501b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 501b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَرْكُزُ - وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَغْرِزُ - الْعَنَزَةَ وَيُصَلِّي إِلَيْهَا . زَادَ ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ وَهْىَ الْحَرْبَةُ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) set up (sutra), and Abu Bakr said: He implanted iron-tipped spear and said prayer towards its direction. Ibn Abu Shaiba made this addition to it:" Ubaidullah said that it was a spear."
[1] A spear tipped stick that is shorter than a lance and longer than a staff.Reference : Sahih Muslim 501bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 278USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1011
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 501b
This narration is short and direct. Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) set up a sutrah, and the wording mentions an iron-tipped spear. He prayed toward its direction. Ibn Abu Shaiba added that Ubaidullah said it was a spear. The main point is the Prophet’s use of a clear object in front of him during prayer. This helps readers looking for a hadith about praying toward a sutrah or a spear in salah. The narration does not discuss many other prayer details, so the explanation should not go beyond the text. It simply shows that a spear could serve as the object placed ahead for prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet prayed toward a placed object.
- The object in this report was identified as a spear.
- A visible sutrah can mark the front direction of prayer.
