Places to Pray
Total Hadiths 32
Where Can Muslims Offer Prayer According to Hadith?
These authentic prophetic traditions explain the flexibility and blessings given to the Muslim community regarding where they can establish their prayers. In a conversation between Abu Dharr and the Prophet Muhammad, we learn that the first place of worship set up on earth was Al-Masjid al-Haram, followed forty years later by Al-Masjid al-Aqsa. Crucially, the Prophet emphasizes that the entire earth has been designated as a mosque, allowing believers to pray wherever they find themselves when the time for prayer arrives. Further narrations from Jabir and Hudhaifa reinforce this special blessing, highlighting that the earth has been made uniquely pure and sacred for this Ummah, with its clean soil serving as a natural purifier through Tayammum when water is unavailable. According to Islamic scholars, these texts confirm that worship is not restricted to formal mosque structures.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ جَبِيرَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ يُصَلَّى فِي سَبْعِ مَوَاطِنَ فِي الْمَزْبَلَةِ وَالْمَجْزَرَةِ وَالْمَقْبَرَةِ وَقَارِعَةِ الطَّرِيقِ وَالْحَمَّامِ وَمَعَاطِنِ الإِبِلِ وَفَوْقَ الْكَعْبَةِ .
It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "Allah's Messenger prohibited prayer from being performed in seven places: The garbage dump, the slaughtering area, the graveyard, the commonly used road, the bathroom, in the area that camels rest at, and above the Ka'bah."
[1] In no. 746, it is possible that it means 'watering holes' that camels rest at. See Tuhfatul-Ahwadhi , and this is the meaning that Sindī preferred, he said: "It is where they kneel around water, because it is feared that the camels will flee and stampede through it, and perhaps that will lead to ruining the prayer." And this is the understanding that most commentaries endorse.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 746In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 12English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 746
حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ التَّيْمِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى أَبِي الْقُرْآنَ فِي السُّدَّةِ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ السَّجْدَةَ سَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَتِ أَتَسْجُدُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَوَّلِ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ " الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ " . قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ " الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى " . قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ " أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ " .
Ibrahim b. Yazid al-Tayml reported: I used to read the Qur'an with my father in the vestibule (before the door of the mosque). When I recited the ayat (verses) concerning prostration, he prostrated himself. I said to him: Father, do you prostrate yourself in the path? He said: I heard Abu Dharr saying: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the mosque that was first set up on the earth. He said: Masjid Harim. I said: Then which next? He said: The Masjid al-Aqsa. I said: How long is the space of time between the two? He said: Forty years. He (then) further said: The earth is a mosque for you, so wherever you are at the time of prayer, pray there.
[1] As-Suddah : Threshold; referring to the shaded area outside of the Masjid . In no. 691 of An-Nasâ'i it is As-Sikkah ; the road or path or lane, and the meaning is the same here.Reference : Sahih Muslim 520bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1057
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ طَارِقٍ، حَدَّثَنِي رِبْعِيُّ بْنُ حِرَاشٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِمِثْلِهِ .
Hudhaifa reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said like this.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 522bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1061
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ .
This hadith has been narratted by Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 523dIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 10USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1065
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْمُقْرِي، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ تَعَالَ فَخُطَّ لِي مَسْجِدًا فِي دَارِي أُصَلِّي فِيهِ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا عَمِيَ فَجَاءَ فَفَعَلَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man among the Ansar sent word to the Messenger of Allah saying: "Come and designate a place in my house where I can perform prayer,' that was after he had become blind. So he went and did that.
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 755In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 755
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، بَكْرُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا إِلاَّ مَرَابِضَ الْغَنَمِ وَأَعْطَانَ الإِبِلِ فَصَلُّوا فِي مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ وَلاَ تُصَلُّوا فِي أَعْطَانِ الإِبِلِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "If you cannot find anywhere (for prayer) except sheep's resting-places and camels' resting-places, then perform prayer in the sheep's resting-places and do not perform prayer in the camels' resting-places."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 768In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 34English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 768
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى الأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً وَخُتِمَ بِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship; I have been sent to all mankind and the line of prophets is closed with me.
[1] Jawâmi’ Al-Kalim: Encompassing speech, few words carrying many meanings.Reference : Sahih Muslim 523aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1062
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بُعِثْتُ بِجَوَامِعِ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَبَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِي يَدَىَّ " . قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْتَثِلُونَهَا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I have been commissioned with words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): and while I was asleep I was brought the keys of the treasures of the earth which were placed in my hand. And Abu Huraira added: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has left (for his heavenly home) and you are now busy in getting them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 523bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1063
وَحَدَّثَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ . مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying a hadith like that of Yunus.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 523cIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1064
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ أَبِي يُونُسَ، مَوْلَى أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ وَأُوتِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِي يَدَىَّ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I have been helped by terror (in the heart of the enemy); I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; and while I was asleep I was brought the keys of the treasures of the earth which were placed in my hand.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 523eIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1066
