Actions while Praying

Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 1214

Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whenever anyone of you is in prayer, he is speaking in private to his Lord and so he should neither spit in front of him nor on his right side but to his left side under his left foot."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the sanctity of prayer as a private conversation between the servant and his Lord. The prohibition against spitting forward or to the right during prayer stems from the spiritual reality that the qibla direction contains divine honor and the right side carries virtue in Islamic tradition.

The permission to spit to the left under one's foot demonstrates Islam's practical accommodation for genuine necessity while maintaining prayer's dignity. Scholars explain that this ruling applies when one cannot avoid spitting due to phlegm or similar conditions, and the action should be minimal and discreet.

Imam al-Nawawi comments that this teaching instills proper adab (etiquette) in prayer, reminding Muslims that they stand before the Almighty in a state of intimate devotion. The physical direction of spitting symbolizes avoiding what is noble and sacred during this spiritual encounter.

Juridical Rulings

The majority of scholars consider spitting forward in prayer makruh (disliked) rather than haram (forbidden), except when done toward the qibla, which is more severely prohibited.

If spitting becomes necessary, one may use a cloth or tissue if available, following the principle of maintaining prayer's cleanliness and reverence.

This ruling extends by analogy to other actions that may disrespect the prayer space, such as blowing one's nose improperly or similar unbecoming behaviors during salah.