Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 1515 in the Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers.

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#1514

#1515

Sahih Muslim

#1516

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Sahih Muslim #1515

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 1515 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers), narrated by Anas b. Sirin reported:, states: "We met Anas b. Malik as he came to Syria at a place known as 'Ain-al-Tamar and saw him observing prayer on the back of his donkey with his face turned in that direction. (Hammam one of the narrators)…"

The Book of Prayer - Travellers

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ تَلَقَّيْنَا أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ حِينَ قَدِمَ الشَّامَ فَتَلَقَّيْنَاهُ بِعَيْنِ التَّمْرِ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَوَجْهُهُ ذَلِكَ الْجَانِبَ - وَأَوْمَأَ هَمَّامٌ عَنْ يَسَارِ الْقِبْلَةِ - فَقُلْتُ لَهُ رَأَيْتُكَ تُصَلِّي لِغَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْعَلُهُ لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ ‏.‏

We met Anas b. Malik as he came to Syria at a place known as 'Ain-al-Tamar and saw him observing prayer on the back of his donkey with his face turned in that direction. (Hammam one of the narrators) pointed towards the left of Qibla, so I said to him: I find you observing prayer towards the side other than that of Qibla. Upon this he said: Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing like this, I would not have done so at all.

Narrated by Anas b. Sirin reported:

Context

Anas b. Malik observed the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) praying on the back of a donkey, facing a direction other than the Qibla. When questioned about this, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he would not have done it had he not seen the Prophet (ﷺ) do so. This hadith highlights the flexibility and adaptability within Islamic practices, especially in prayer.

Modern Application

In our daily salah, we may find ourselves in situations where we cannot pray in the traditional manner. This hadith encourages us to adapt our prayers to our circumstances while maintaining the essence of worship, showing that intention and effort matter.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it demonstrates the allowance for flexibility in prayer practices based on circumstances.

Prayer

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

4 ayahs

قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward al- Masjid al-Haram, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."

وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided.

سُورَةُ عَبَسَ

Abasa (He frowned)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

The Prophet frowned and turned away

Common Words

109 total78 unique21 repeated

وجهك4x

من4x

فول3x

شطر3x

ٱلمسجد3x

ٱلحرام3x

ما3x

ٱلله3x

وحيث2x

كنتم2x

فولوا2x

وجوهكم2x

شطره2x

ٱلذين2x

وما2x

بغفل2x

عما2x

ومن2x

حيث2x

خرجت2x

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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #1515 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Prayer - Travellers. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Anas b. Sirin reported:.

Browse all Sahih Muslim All Hadith Collections