5/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 546a — Moving Pebbles in Prayer Only Once
It is disliked to smooth the pebbles or make the dirt level during salat
Hadith About Removing Pebbles During Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 546a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 546a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُعَيْقِيبٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَسْحَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ - يَعْنِي الْحَصَى - قَالَ " إِنْ كُنْتَ لاَ بُدَّ فَاعِلاً فَوَاحِدَةً " .
Mu'aiqib Narrated from:
Mu'aiqib quoted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioning the removal of pebbles from the ground where he prostrated himself. He (the Prophet) said: It you must do so, do it only once.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 546aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 59USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1114
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 546a
This hadith about removing pebbles during prayer teaches restraint in small movements while praying. Mu’aiqib reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned wiping or removing pebbles from the place where a person prostrates. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if someone must do it, then it should be done only once. The wording is simple and practical. It does not say to keep fixing the ground again and again. It allows for a need, but limits the action. For readers searching removing pebbles in salah hadith, clearing place of sujood, or Sahih Muslim 546a, the teaching is to keep prayer focused and avoid repeated extra movement.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may have a need to clear the place of prostration.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم limited that action to one time if it must be done.
- The narration points to calmness and less extra movement in prayer.
