5/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 550a — Mosque Etiquette and Respect in Prayer
The prohibition of spitting in the masjid, during prayer and at other times. The prohibition of a praying person spitting in front of him or to his right
Hadith About Spitting in the Mosque: Mosque Etiquette in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 550a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 550a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى نُخَامَةً فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ " مَا بَالُ أَحَدِكُمْ يَقُومُ مُسْتَقْبِلَ رَبِّهِ فَيَتَنَخَّعُ أَمَامَهُ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُسْتَقْبَلَ فَيُتَنَخَّعَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَإِذَا تَنَخَّعَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَتَنَخَّعْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ تَحْتَ قَدَمِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَلْيَقُلْ هَكَذَا " . وَوَصَفَ الْقَاسِمُ فَتَفَلَ فِي ثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بَعْضَهُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw some sputum in the direction of the Qibla of the mosque. He turned towards people and said: How Is it that someone amongst you stands before his Lord and then spits out in front of Him? Does any one of you like that he should be made to stand in front of someone and then spit at his face? So when any one of you spits, he must spit on his left side under his foot. But if he does not find (space to spit) he should do like this. Qasim (one of the narrators) spat in his cloth and then folded it and rubbed it.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 550aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 66USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1121
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 550a
This Hadith about spitting in the mosque teaches deep respect for prayer, the Qibla, and the place of worship. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw sputum in the direction of the Qibla and corrected the people with a clear example. He reminded them that a person in prayer is standing before his Lord, so spitting in front is not proper. The Hadith also gives practical guidance: if someone must spit, he should do so to the left under the foot, and if that is not possible, he should use his cloth, fold it, and rub it. The main message is simple: mosque cleanliness is part of good prayer manners. A believer should treat the masjid with care, respect, and clean behavior.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not spit toward the Qibla, especially in the mosque.
- Prayer should be approached with respect because the worshipper stands before Allah.
- If someone needs to spit, the Hadith gives a cleaner and more respectful way to handle it.
- Keeping the mosque clean is part of good Islamic manners.
