Chapter 94.0

Is it permissible to one to look around in Salat (prayer) if something happens to one? Or can one look at something like expectoration in the directn of the Qiblah?

باب هَلْ يَلْتَفِتُ لأَمْرٍ يَنْزِلُ بِهِ أَوْ يَرَى شَيْئًا أَوْ بُصَاقًا فِي الْقِبْلَةِ

وَقَالَ سَهْلٌ الْتَفَتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَرَأَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

2 hadiths

Sahih al-Bukhari, 753sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Qutayba bin Sa'id bin Jamilfromal-Laith bin Sa'dfromNafie'fromibn Umar

Hadith text · Matn

‏ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ، فَلاَ يَتَنَخَّمَنَّ أَحَدٌ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏

‏‏.‏ رَوَاهُ مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ وَابْنُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

The Prophet (ﷺ) saw expectoration in the direction of the Qibla of the mosque while he was leading the prayer, and scratched it off. After finishing the prayer, he said, "Whenever any of you is in prayer he should know that Allah is in front of him. So none should spit in front of him in the prayer."

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ رَأَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نُخَامَةً فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي بَيْنَ يَدَىِ النَّاسِ، فَحَتَّهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ ‏

Sahih al-Bukhari, 754sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Yahya bin Yahya bin Bukayrfromal-Laith bin Sa'dfrom'Aqil bin Khalid bin 'Aqilfromal-ZuhrifromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسٌ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ لَمْ يَفْجَأْهُمْ إِلاَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَشَفَ سِتْرَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ، فَتَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ، وَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ لِيَصِلَ لَهُ الصَّفَّ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ، وَهَمَّ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنْ يَفْتَتِنُوا فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَتِمُّوا صَلاَتَكُمْ، فَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ، وَتُوُفِّيَ مِنْ آخِرِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas:

While the Muslims were offering the Fajr prayer, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) suddenly appeared before them by living the curtain of the dwelling place of `Aisha, looked towards the Muslims who were standing in rows. He smiled with pleasure. Abu Bakr started retreating to join the row on the assumption that the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to come out for the prayer. The Muslims intended to leave the prayer (and were on the verge of being put to trial), but the Prophet (ﷺ) beckoned them to complete their prayer and then he let the curtain fall. He died in the last hours of that day.