Chapter 309 - Prohibition of Spitting in the Masjid

Anas bin Malik said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Spitting in the Masjid is a sin, and its expiation is that the spittle should be buried in earth.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: To atone for spitting in the Masjid, one should bury the spittle in earth, but this applies when the floor of the Masjid is covered with earth; as this is not the case today, one should wipe the spittle off or wash it off with clean water.

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


Commentary: The narrator of this Hadith has expressed doubt about the exact nature of the filth, whether it was spittle, or phlegm or something else. Whatever it was, apparently it was dry. The Prophet scraped or rubbed it out and thus gave an important lesson of cleanliness to his Ummah.

Anas said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"It is not proper to use the Masjid 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].


Commentary:

1. The Prophet said this on the urination of a Bedouin in the Masjid. He made him understand very politely and prudently that Masjids are meant for worship, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur'an and similar other acts of piety, and one should not do any thing that violates their sanctity.

2. The narrator has added the words "or as he stated''. It was a practice with the narrators of Ahadith to say these words by way of care to cover the risk of any change in the Hadith wording.