5/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 560a — No Prayer When Food or Urge Distracts
It is disliked to offer salat in the presence of food that one wants to eat. It is disliked to offer salat while restraining the urge to relieve oneself, and so on
Hadith About No Prayer When Food Is Present: Focus Before Salah
Sahih Muslim : 560a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 560a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، - هُوَ ابْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ - عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَتِيقٍ، قَالَ تَحَدَّثْتُ أَنَا وَالْقَاسِمُ، عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ - رضى الله عنها - حَدِيثًا وَكَانَ الْقَاسِمُ رَجُلاً لَحَّانَةً وَكَانَ لأُمِّ وَلَدٍ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ مَا لَكَ لاَ تَحَدَّثُ كَمَا يَتَحَدَّثُ ابْنُ أَخِي هَذَا أَمَا إِنِّي قَدْ عَلِمْتُ مِنْ أَيْنَ أُتِيتَ . هَذَا أَدَّبَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَأَنْتَ أَدَّبَتْكَ أُمُّكَ - قَالَ - فَغَضِبَ الْقَاسِمُ وَأَضَبَّ عَلَيْهَا فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَائِدَةَ عَائِشَةَ قَدْ أُتِيَ بِهَا قَامَ . قَالَتْ أَيْنَ قَالَ أُصَلِّي . قَالَتِ اجْلِسْ . قَالَ إِنِّي أُصَلِّي . قَالَتِ اجْلِسْ غُدَرُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ صَلاَةَ بِحَضْرَةِ الطَّعَامِ وَلاَ وَهُوَ يُدَافِعُهُ الأَخْبَثَانِ " .
Ibn Atiq Narrated from:
Al-Qasim was in the presence of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) that I narrated a hadith and Qasim was a man who committed errors in (pronouncing words) and his mother was a freed slave-girl. 'A'isha said to him: What is the matter with you that you do not narrate as this son of my brother narrated (the ahadith)? Well I know from where you picked it up. This is how his mother brought him up and how your mother brought you up. Qasim felt angry (on this remark of Hadrat 'A'isha) and showed bitterness towards her.When he saw that the table had been spread for 'A'isha, he stood up, 'A'isha, said: Where are you going? He said: (I am going) to say prayer. She said: Sit down (to take the food). He said: I must say prayer. She said: Sit down, ) faithless, for I have heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: No prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
[1] Umm Walad , is a term used to refer to a slave woman who bore a son to her owner.Reference : Sahih Muslim 560aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 84USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1139
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 560a
This Hadith about no prayer when food is present gives a strong lesson about focus before Salah. In the report, A'isha told Qasim to sit when the table had been spread and he wanted to pray. She then narrated that she heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say there is no prayer when food is present before the worshipper, or when he is resisting the call of nature. The Hadith links prayer to mental and physical readiness. It does not tell people to neglect prayer. It teaches that a person should not stand for prayer while a clear need is pulling his attention. Food in front of him and the urge to relieve oneself are both mentioned in the text as matters that affect proper prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith says there is no proper prayer when food is present before the worshipper.
- It also mentions praying while resisting the call of nature.
- Prayer should be entered with attention and readiness.
- A person should handle strong distractions before standing for Salah.
