Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
Adab al-Mashi ila al-Salat
- Author died
- 1206 AH
- Editions
- T al-Wizarah
Adab al-Mashi ila al-Salat (The Etiquette of Walking to Prayer) is a legal treatise on acts of worship (ibadat) authored by the Hanbali scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1206 AH / 1792 CE) .
Title and Composition
The work is also designated as Kitab al-Ibadat (The Book of Acts of Worship) . It has been noted that the title Adab al-Mashi ila al-Salat was likely assigned to the text by students rather than the author himself, because the work begins with a section headed "Chapter on the Etiquette of Walking to Prayer" (باب آداب المشي إلى الصلاة), whereas the treatise itself addresses broader domains of worship . Owing to this title, certain early printed editions restricted the work exclusively to rulings on prayer, omitting the author's sections on funeral rites, zakat, and fasting .
In composing the manual, the author was guided by the statement of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: "One is obligated to seek the knowledge by which his religion is established. It was asked: Like what? He said: That which he cannot afford to be ignorant of, such as his prayer, fasting, and the like" . The author omitted the subject of ritual purity (taharah) because its discussion is lengthy and its nullifiers are covered elsewhere, and he omitted the pilgrimage (hajj) because it is treated separately in dedicated guides on pilgrimage rites (manasik) . He also omitted the preliminary conditions and ablution requirements before the chapter on walking to prayer because he had addressed them in his treatise Shurut al-Salat (Conditions of Prayer), which students customarily study alongside or prior to this book .
Scope and Methodology
The treatise covers the core individual obligations of Muslim practice, including:
- Prayer and its manners: Beginning with the etiquettes of proceeding to the mosque—such as leaving home in a state of ritual purification and humility, reciting the reported supplications, walking with tranquility and dignity (السكينة والوقار), shortening strides, and refraining from interlacing the fingers (التشبيك بين الأصابع)—before detailing the description and mechanics of prayer and funeral rites (al-jana'iz) .
- Zakat and Fasting: The legal rulings governing the payment of obligatory alms and the observance of fasting (al-siyam) .
- Social Etiquettes: Supplementary topics such as the rules of greetings (al-salam) and seeking permission to enter (al-isti'dhan) .
In terms of methodology, the author systematically arranged the material into thematic chapters and supported rulings using evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus (ijma'), and the statements of mujtahid jurists . He removed irregular (marjuh) positions or innovations found in some works associated with the four legal schools, documented the sources (takhrij) of hadiths when necessary, and omitted citations for those widely recognized .
Reception and Commentaries
The book is widely utilized as an introductory primer for students beginning their study of Islamic jurisprudence . It was commented upon by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, whose lectures were compiled, arranged, and published by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Qasim under the title Sharh Kitab Adab al-Mashi ila al-Salat aw al-Ibadat . The text is also published as part of the collected works of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab .
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