Preparing for Prayer
Total Hadiths 4
How Do the Prophetic Hadiths Guide Us in Preparing for Prayer?
True readiness for worship involves both outward physical cleanliness and inward focus. According to these traditional accounts, the physical state of the worshipper is vital when stepping up to pray. In one instance, even after the congregation had already lined up in straight rows, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) realized he had not performed the mandatory ritual bath (Ghusl). He instructed his companions to maintain their positions, went home to bathe, and returned with water dripping from his head to lead the prayer. Furthermore, these accounts show that bodily distractions must be resolved before initiating worship. The companions taught that if a person feels the physical urge to relieve themselves when the prayer time arrives, they should address that natural need first. According to Islamic scholars, these practical guidelines emphasize that prayer should always be approached with full attention, peace of mind, and complete purity.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، وَالْوَلِيدُ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَفَّ النَّاسُ صُفُوفَهُمْ وَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَغْتَسِلْ فَقَالَ لِلنَّاسِ " مَكَانَكُمْ " . ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا يَنْطِفُ رَأْسُهُ فَاغْتَسَلَ وَنَحْنُ صُفُوفٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Iqamah for prayer was said and the people stood in rows, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out. Then when he stood in the place where he prayed, he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: 'Stay where you are.' Then he went back to his house, then he came out with his head dripping with water. He performed Ghusl while we were standing in our rows.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 792In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 16English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 793
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَقُمْنَا فَعُدِّلَتِ الصُّفُوفُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ فَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ لَنَا " مَكَانَكُمْ " . فَلَمْ نَزَلْ قِيَامًا نَنْتَظِرُهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا قَدِ اغْتَسَلَ يَنْطِفُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً فَكَبَّرَ وَصَلَّى .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Iqamah for prayer was said, and we stood up and the rows were straightened, before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us and stood in the place where he prayed, before he said the Takbir he paused and said to us: 'Stay where you are.' So we stayed there, waiting for him, until he came out to us; he had performed Ghusl and his head was dripping with water. Then he said the Takbir and prayed.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 809In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 810
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا حَضَرَ الْعَشَاءُ وَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَابْدَءُوا بِالْعَشَاءِ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If dinner is ready and the Iqamah for prayer is said, then start with dinner first.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 853In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 77English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 854
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَرْقَمَ، كَانَ يَؤُمُّ أَصْحَابَهُ فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ يَوْمًا فَذَهَبَ لِحَاجَتِهِ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْغَائِطَ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِهِ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ " .
Hisham b. 'Urwa Narrated from:
'Abdullih bin Arqam used to lead his companions in prayer. The time for prayer came one day and he went to relieve himself then he came back and said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If any one of you feels the need to defecate, let him do that first, before he prays."'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 852In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 76English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 853
