Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 309

Prohibition of Spitting in the Mosque

باب النهي عن البصاق في المسجد والأمر بإزالته منه إذا وجد فيه، والأمر بتنزيه المسجد عن الأقذار

This chapter is about reverence for the masjid, the house set aside for Allah. Its central idea is simple: a place built for prayer and the remembrance of Allah deserves to be kept clean and dignified, free of anything dirty or careless. The word that runs underneath these hadith is tanzih, the honouring of a sacred space by keeping it pure.

Notice how the Prophet (peace be upon him) does not only forbid soiling the mosque but actively removes filth with his own hand, and reminds us what the building is truly for. The lesson reaches past spit and dirt: it is an attitude of respect for the places where we stand before our Lord.

Hadith 1693

Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏البصاق في المسجد خطيئة، وكفارتها دفنها‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ والمرادُ بِدَفْنِهَا إذَا كَانَ المَسْجِدُ تُرَابًا أوْ رَمْلًا ونَحْوَهُ فَيُوَارِيهَا تَحْتَ تُرَابِهِ. قالَ أبُو المحاسِنِ الرُّويَانِي مِنْ أصحابِنا في كِتَابِهِ (البحر) وقِيلَ: المُرَادُ بِدَفْنِهَا إخْراجُهَا مِنَ المَسْجِدِ، أمَّا إِذَا كَانَ المَسْجِدُ مُبَلَّطًا أَوْ مُجَصَّصًا، فَدَلَكَهَا عَلَيْهِ بِمَدَاسِهِ أَوْ بِغَيْرِهِ كَمَا يَفْعَلُهُ كَثيرٌ مِنَ الجُهَّالِ، فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِدَفْنٍ، بَلْ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الخَطِيئَةِ وَتَكْثِيرٌ لِلقَذَرِ في المَسْجِدِ، وَعَلَى مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أنْ يَمْسَحَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِثَوْبِهِ أَوْ بِيَدِهِ أَوْ غَيرِهِ أَوْ يَغْسِلَهُ.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Spitting in the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is that the spittle should be buried in earth." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

Spitting inside the mosque is called a sin, and making up for it by burying the spittle. The lesson is reverence for the place set aside for worship.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1693 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 183

Hadith 1694

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى في جدار القبلة مخاطا أو بزاقا أو نخامة فحكه ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw spittle or snot or sputum, sticking to the wall towards Qiblah and scratched it off. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet himself scratched away spittle or mucus stuck on the wall facing the prayer direction, showing by action that the mosque is to be kept clean.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1694 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 184

Hadith 1695

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏إن هذه المساجد لا تصلح لشيء من البول ولا القذر، إنما هي لذكر الله تعالى، وقراءة القرآن‏" ‏ أو كما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is not proper to use the mosque for urinating or easing oneself. They are merely built for the remembrance of Allah and the recitation of the Qur'an", or as he stated. [Muslim].

In plain words

The mosque is not for relieving oneself; it was built for the remembrance of Allah and the recitation of the Qur'an. Keep the sacred space for its true purpose.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1695 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 185