Folding the prayer mat

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

I am not aware of any evidence from Quran or Sunnah saying that if one does not fold a corner of the prayer mat then Shaytan prays on it. I did come across certain narrations being used to justify the practice. However, those narrations are too weak and cannot be attributed to our blessed Prophet ﷺ. Thus, the onus remains on those making this claim to provide sufficiently strong evidence to prove it. 

Explanation 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ

Abu Hurairah (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘It is enough of a lie for a person to narrate everything that he hears.” (Sahih Muslim, Chapter 3, Prohibition of Narrating Everything One Hears).

The blessed Prophet ﷺ warned against narrating Hadith without verification. Therefore, a teacher of the Deen must check the authenticity as well as the source of a narration prior to broadcasting it. The narrations used to support the practice of folding the corner of the prayer mat are either very weak or fabricated. Thus, they cannot be used as evidence nor attributed to our beloved Prophet ﷺ.  

Imam Ibn Asakir 

أخبرنا أبو الحسن علي بن أحمد بن منصور أنا أبي أبو العباس نا القاضي أبو محمد بن عبد الوهاب بن علي بن نصر البغدادي المالكي بدمشق نا أبو الفتح يوسف بن عمر بن مسرور القواس نا عبد الملك بن أحمد إملاء نا علي بن إشكاب نا عمرو بن محمد البصري نا المبارك بن سعيد عن ياسين بن معاذ عن أبي الزبير عن جابر قال قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وسلم) الشياطين يستمتعون بثيابكم فإذا نزع أحدكم ثوبه فليطوه حتى ترجع إليها أنفاسها فإن الشيطان لا يلبس ثوبا مطويا

Yasin bin Muadh narrated from Abi al-Zubayr, who narrated from Jabir, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The devils use your clothes. So, when one of you takes off his garment, let him fold it until its breath returns to it. For indeed the devil does not wear a folded garment. (Tarikh Dimashq, 7518).

The narration the questioner raised is from Ibn Asakir. That should immediately cause concern for people who are familiar with the science of Hadith. Imam Ibn Asakir (571H) is incredibly late as a source of Hadith. Many dubious narrations are found in his works. Scholars who are proficient in Hadith will not narrate from him without checking authenticity. 

I have mentioned the Sanad in the original Arabic text above. So, people can see how long the chain (Sanad) is. However, one does not have to scrutinise much of the chain to realise that the narration at hand is extremely weak and possibly fabricated. Therefore, it is not permitted to link these words to our beloved Prophet ﷺ. 

 

قال ابن معين: ليس حديثه بشئ. وقال البخاري: منكر الحديث. وقال النسائي وابن الجنيد: متروك. وقال ابن حبان: يروي الموضوعات. (ميزان الاعتدال في نقد الرجال)

Ibn Ma’in said: His (Yasin bin Muadh) Hadith is nothing. Al-Bukhari said: His Hadith are rejected. An-Nasa’i and Ibn al-Junayd said: He is rejected. Ibn Hibban said: He narrates fabrications. (Imam Shams al-Deen al-Dhahabi 748H, Mizan al-I’tidal fi Naqd ar-Rijal).

Imam al-Dhahabi narrated from the Imams of Hadith that Yasin bin Muadh was an extremely problematic narrator. He was either very weak or possibly a fabricator. And he is found in the chain (Sanad) of Imam Ibn Asakir. Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable to use the above narration to prove the recommendation of folding a corner of the prayer mat.  

A better source 

Imam al-Tabarani’s Hadith collections are a far better source of Hadith than the works of Imam Ibn Asakir. He is a far earlier and stronger Hadith scholar. However, there is no guarantee that his narrations are authentic. Rather, like almost all Hadith collections, the authenticity has to be checked. 

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: اطْوُوا ثِيَابَكُمْ تَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهَا أَرْوَاحُهَا، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِذَا وَجَدَ الثَّوْبَ مَطْوِيًّا لَمْ يَلْبَسْهُ، وَإِذَا وَجَدَهُ مَنْشُورًا لَبِسَهُ

Umar bin Musa narrated from Abi al-Zubayr from Jabir, who narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Fold your clothes so that their Arwah may return to them. For if Satan finds a garment folded, he will not wear it. But if he finds it unfolded, he will wear it. (Tabarani, al-Mujam al-Awsat, 5702) 

Imam al-Tabarani seemed to have a concern regarding this narration. After narrating it, he highlighted the fact that only Umar bin Musa narrated it. And it has only been narrated with this chain. 

لَمْ يَرْوِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ إِلَّا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ وَجِيهٍ، وَلَا يُرْوَى عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، إِلَّا بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ. (المعجم الأوسط)

This hadith was only narrated on the authority of Abi al-Zubayr by Umar bin Musa bin Wajih. It is not narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ except through this chain of narration. (Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani 360H, al-Mujam al-Awsat).

The above narration cannot be used to recommend folding a corner of the prayer mat. Since Imam al-Haythami clarified that it has a fabricator in the chain. Thus, it is a fabrication and prohibited to link it to our beloved Prophet ﷺ. 

رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي الْأَوْسَطِ، وَفِيهِ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ وَجِيهٍ، وَهُوَ وَضَّاعٌ. (مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد)

It was narrated by Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, and it contains Umar ibn Musa ibn Wajih, who is a fabricator. (Imam Noorud-deen al-Haythami 807H, Majma’ al-Zawaid).

Using weak Hadith 

Due to widespread ignorance regarding Hadith science, people cannot differentiate between weak and very weak Hadith narrations. So, they will say we can use weak Hadith to support the notion of folding a corner of the prayer mat. They do not understand that these narrations are very weak or fabricated. Such narrations cannot be used. 

Other narrations 

People who are caught narrating dubious Hadith often claim that there are other narrations that support what they have said. This usually demonstrates their own ignorance regarding Hadith. Firstly, the onus is upon them to provide those narrations. Simply saying that they exist is insufficient. Secondly, they have to prove that those narrations are stronger or strong enough to use as proof. This is rarely done. Usually, the statement is used to deflect criticism and scrutiny.  

حَدِيث: طَيُّ الْقُمَاشِ يَزِيدُ فِي زِيِّهِ، الديلمي عن جابر رفعه: طي الثوب راحته، وفي لفظ له بلا سند: إذا خلعتم ثيابكم فاطووها ترجع إليها أنفاسها، وهو عند الطبراني في الأوسط، من حديث عمر بن موسى عن أبي الزبير عن جابر رفعه بلفظ: اطووا ثيابكم ترجع إليها أرواحها، فإن الشيطان إذا وجد ثوبا مطويا لم يلبسه، وإذا وجده منشورا لبسه، وقال: إنه لا يروى عن النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إلا بهذا الإسناد، وكلها واهية. (المقاصد الحسنة في بيان كثير من الأحاديث المشتهرة على الألسنة)

Hadith: Folding clothes improves its appearance. Al-Daylami, from Jabir, attributed to the Prophet ﷺ: Folding a garment is its ease. And in another version of it, without a chain of transmission: When you take off your clothes, fold them so that their breath returns to them. It is found in Al-Tabarani’s Al-Awsat, the Hadith of Umar bin Musa from Abi al-Zubayr from Jabir, attributed to the Prophet ﷺ with the wording: Fold your clothes so that their Arwah may return to them. For if Satan finds a garment folded, he will not wear it. But if he finds it unfolded, he will wear it. He said: It is not narrated from the Prophet ﷺ except through this chain of transmission. And all of them are extremely weak. (Imam al-Sakhaawi 902h, al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah)

Imam al-Sakhaawi mentioned several related narrations and said they are all very weak. Thus, the approach of simply claiming that there are other narrations without providing evidence is further undermined in this case. Imam al-Showkani went further and alluded to fabrication. 

حديث: طَيُّ الْقِمَاشِ يُزِيدُ فِي زِيِّهِ وَفِي لَفْظٍ طَيُّ الثَّوْبِ رَاحَةٌ وَفِي لَفْظٍ اطْوُوا ثِيَابَكُمْ تَرْجِعْ إِلَيْهَا أَرْوَاحُهَا وَفِي لَفْظٍ اطْوُوا ثيابكم لا تلبسها الجن. كُلُّهَا وَاهِيَةٌ وَذَكَرَهَا ابْنُ طَاهِرٍ في موضوعاته. (الفوائد المجموعة في الأحاديث الموضوعة)

The hadith: Folding cloth improves its appearance, and in another version: Folding a garment is comfort, and in another version: Fold your clothes so that their Arwah may return to them, and in another version: Fold your clothes so that the Jinn do not wear them. All of them are extremely weak. Ibn Tahir mentioned them in his book on fabricated Hadith narrations. (Imam al-Showkani 1250H, al-Fawa’id al-Majmoo’ah fi al-Ahadith al-Mawdu’ah)

Shaytan prays 

Even if these narrations were sound they still could not be used as evidence for those who say Shaytan prays if you leave the prayer mat unfolded. Since the Shaytan repenting and praying would be deemed incredibly positive. Whereas devils using our garments is terrible and must be avoided. So how can you use one as evidence for the other. 

If there were a Hadith saying Shaytan prays if you do not fold a corner of the prayer mat. Then it is more likely that the Hadith would encourage us to leave prayer mats unfolded since Shaytan turning to piety is desirable. However, such a Hadith is impossible since we know Shaytan will remain upon his misguidance. 

Pointing out the absurdity of such a narration is important. Since, many fabrications in the Deen contain absurdities within them. Thus, making it easier for us to differentiate between Prophetic truth and the falsehood of innovation (Bidah). 

Conclusion 

As Muslims who love the Prophet ﷺ we should be incredibly protective regarding our blessed Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, we should not allow people to attribute anything to the noble Prophet ﷺ without sufficient evidence. 

One of the most shocking practices amongst Muslims today is that those Muslims who claim to love the Prophet ﷺ the most, tend to have the least concern regarding Hadith authenticity. Thus, they will not only fail to protect the Prophet ﷺ from false attributions, but they will themselves attribute fabrications to the blessed Prophet ﷺ. 

This was done regarding the issue of folding a corner of the prayer mat. An extremely weak narration was attributed to the Mubarak Prophet ﷺ to justify this practice. This is not permissible. Although weak Hadith can be speculatively attributed to the beloved Prophet ﷺ, very weak Hadith cannot. 

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (25.12.25)