5/15. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 556b — Guarding Focus in Salah
It is disliked to offer salat in a garment with markings
Hadith About Focus in Salah: Removing Visual Distractions
Sahih Muslim : 556b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 556b
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي فِي خَمِيصَةٍ ذَاتِ أَعْلاَمٍ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى عَلَمِهَا فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ قَالَ " اذْهَبُوا بِهَذِهِ الْخَمِيصَةِ إِلَى أَبِي جَهْمِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ وَائْتُونِي بِأَنْبِجَانِيِّهِ فَإِنَّهَا أَلْهَتْنِي آنِفًا فِي صَلاَتِي " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood for prayer with a garment which had designs over it. He looked at these designs and after completing the prayer said: Take this garment to Abu Jahm b. Hudhaifa and bring me a blanket for it has distracted me just now.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 556bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 77USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1132
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 556b
This Hadith about focus in Salah gives a clear picture of how visual distractions can affect prayer. A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم stood for prayer wearing a garment with designs. He looked at those designs, and after completing the prayer, he told them to take the garment to Abu Jahm b. Hudhaifa and bring a blanket instead, because it had distracted him just then in his prayer. The Hadith is not about rejecting clothing in general. It is about a specific garment whose designs drew attention during Salah. The lesson is easy to apply: when something keeps pulling your attention in prayer, it is better to remove it or replace it with something simpler.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed that the garment designs distracted him during prayer.
- He completed the prayer and then addressed the cause of distraction.
- Simple surroundings and clothing can support better focus.
- The Hadith teaches practical care for attention in Salah.
