6/60. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 589 — Avoid Looking Around
What Has Been Mentioned About Looking Around During Salat
Avoid Looking Around in Salah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 589
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 589
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَاتِمٍ، مُسْلِمُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا بُنَىَّ إِيَّاكَ وَالاِلْتِفَاتَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ الاِلْتِفَاتَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ هَلَكَةٌ فَإِنْ كَانَ لاَ بُدَّ فَفِي التَّطَوُّعِ لاَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Said To Me: 'O My Son! Beware Of Looking Around During The Salat, For Indeed Looking Around During Salat Is Destruction. If You Must Do So, Then In The Voluntary (Prayers), Not In The Obligatory (Prayers).'" (Da'If)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 589In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 46English translation : Vol. 2, Book 1, Hadith 589
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 589
This Hadith about looking around in salah contains direct advice from the Prophet to Anas. He said, “O my son,” then warned him against looking around during prayer, describing it as destruction. The wording then says that if it must be done, it should be in voluntary prayer, not obligatory prayer. The input marks this narration as Da'if, so the explanation should focus on the wording without making broad claims beyond it. The main teaching is about prayer focus. A person should guard the obligatory prayer from needless turning and should treat salah with care and attention.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s wording warns against looking around during salah.
- The text gives stronger care to obligatory prayer than voluntary prayer.
- The advice was given in a gentle address: “O my son.”
- The Hadith points toward focus and restraint while praying.
