Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Da'if. The grade indicates the level of authenticity based on the chain of narration and content analysis.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 490 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

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#489

#490

Sunan Abu Dawud

#491

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Sunan Abu Dawud #490

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 490 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:, states: "AbuSalih al-Ghifari reported: Ali (once) passed by Babylon during his travels. The mu'adhdhin (the person who calls for prayer) came to him to call for the afternoon prayer. When he passed by that pla…"

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Da'if

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

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَزْهَرَ، عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ الْمُرَادِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ الْغِفَارِيِّ، أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - مَرَّ بِبَابِلَ وَهُوَ يَسِيرُ فَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ يُؤَذِّنُ بِصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ فَلَمَّا بَرَزَ مِنْهَا أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ إِنَّ حَبِيبِي صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَانِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ فِي الْمَقْبُرَةِ وَنَهَانِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ فِي أَرْضِ بَابِلَ فَإِنَّهَا مَلْعُونَةٌ ‏.‏

AbuSalih al-Ghifari reported: Ali (once) passed by Babylon during his travels. The mu'adhdhin (the person who calls for prayer) came to him to call for the afternoon prayer. When he passed by that place, he commanded to announce for the prayer. After finishing the prayer he said: My affectionate friend (i.e. the Prophet) prohibited me to say prayer in the graveyard. He also forbade me to offer prayer in Babylon because it is accursed.

Narrated by Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:

Context

This hadith narrates an incident involving Ali ibn Abu Talib (رضي الله عنه) as he passed through Babylon. When called to prayer, he instructed the mu'adhdhin to commence the prayer. Afterward, he mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) had prohibited him from praying in graveyards and in Babylon, labeling it as accursed. This highlights the significance of specific locations in Islamic practices.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this hadith reminds us of the importance of choosing appropriate places for prayer. Muslims today may seek to ensure their prayer environments are respectful and conducive to worship, avoiding locations that may be deemed inappropriate.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct because it reflects the guidance given by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding where prayers should not be performed.

Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

2 ayahs

وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.

لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌۭ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ

Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.

وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا

And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.

سُورَةُ عَبَسَ

Abasa (He frowned)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

The Prophet frowned and turned away

Common Words

118 total93 unique16 repeated

على4x

أن4x

ولا3x

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أحد2x

أبدا2x

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ٱلذين2x

لا2x

ٱلصلوة2x

حتى2x

ٱلله2x

تصل1x

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مات1x

قبره1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #490 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat). It is graded Da'if and narrated by Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections