❖ 17 Hadith-Based Evidences Permitting Salah in Goat Pens ❖
Source: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 320
Is it permissible to pray in a goat pen where droppings are present and there is nothing to spread on the ground?
The correct and sound opinion is that the excrement and droppings of animals whose meat is lawful to eat (e.g., goats) are pure (ṭāhir). Therefore, praying in their pens is permissible, even if droppings are on the ground and there is nothing to lay down.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Pray in the sheep enclosures, and do not pray in camel enclosures.”
(Tirmidhī 1/81, Ḥadīth 348; al-Mishkāh 1/21)
✔ This implies the purity of goat/sheep urine and droppings.
Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ used to pray in goat pens before the mosque was built.
(Bukhārī 1/37, 61)
✔ No mention of a mat—he likely prayed directly on the ground.
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) addressed this issue explicitly.
Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه) prayed on soil with droppings and said:
“There’s no difference in purity here or there.”
(Bukhārī 1/36; Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/267)
Narrated by ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
Some companions squeezed camel dung for moisture during a drought and placed it on their chests.
(al-Ḥākim 1/159)
✔ Imām al-Ḏhahabī affirmed its authenticity.
➤ If the dung were impure, the Prophet ﷺ would not have allowed this.
The default ruling in Sharīʿah is:
All things are pure unless proven impure.
Since no proof exists declaring such droppings impure, they remain pure.
The Prophet ﷺ permitted certain individuals to drink camel urine and milk.
(Muslim 2/57; Aṣḥāb al-Sunan)
✔ The command was general, applying to the Ummah.
The Prophet ﷺ performed ṭawāf riding an animal, and Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) was permitted to do the same.
(Bukhārī 1/221; Muslim 1/413)
✔ Had animal excretion been impure, this would have defiled the Ḥaram, which is not permissible.
It was customary in Madinah not to consider the urine of lawful animals impure.
(Bayhaqī 1/252; Dāraqutnī Ḥadīth 47; Mishkāh 1/516)
➤ Though some chains are weak, the consistent practice of the Companions is noteworthy.
Mushrikūn of Quraysh placed camel intestines on the Prophet’s ﷺ back during sajdah.
(Bukhārī 1/37)
✔ The Prophet ﷺ completed his prayer—proof that the excretion was not najis.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not perform istinjāʾ with dung or bones, for they are the food of your jinn brothers.”
(Tirmidhī 1/11; Nasā’ī 1/16; Mishkāh 1/42)
✔ Had droppings been impure, they would not be food for the jinn.
Despite the Prophet ﷺ’s close association with such animals, no explicit instruction was ever issued forbidding prayer in their pens.
ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr (رحمه الله) said:
His goat used to drop dung on his prayer space.
Abū Jaʿfar al-Bāqir (رحمه الله) and Nāfiʿ Mawlā Ibn ʿUmar (رحمه الله) also stated:
There is no harm if camel urine gets on garments or turbans.
Sometimes droppings may be washed off, not due to impurity, but simply for cleanliness.
➤ Naẓāfah (cleanliness) ≠ Ṭahārah (ritual purity)
Animals would urinate while grazing on grain crops, yet the crops (e.g., wheat, barley) were still deemed ḥalāl.
(Imām Ṭaḥāwī 1/84)
Only al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) expressed dislike.
Narrated by Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
He brought two stones and dung for istinjāʾ. The Prophet ﷺ rejected the dung and said:
“This is riks.”
(1/72)
✔ Possible explanations:
– It may have been human or non-slaughtered animal dung
– “Riks” doesn’t always mean impure; it may mean disliked or rejected
He performed ṣalāh without wudu, despite contact with camel dung and blood.
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/392; ʿAbd al-Razzāq 1/125; Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr 9/284)
“I don’t mind slaughtering a camel and becoming covered with dung and blood, then praying without using water.”
(Jadāt 2/887, Ḥadīth 2503)
✔ Although there’s some discussion on the chain, the meaning is clear and supports the ruling.
All these evidences affirm that:
◈ Goat droppings, urine, and dung are pure (ṭāhir)
◈ Salah is permissible in goat pens—even directly on the ground
◈ No authentic evidence proves them impure (najis)
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 320❀ Question:
Is it permissible to pray in a goat pen where droppings are present and there is nothing to spread on the ground?
Conclusion Before the Evidences
The correct and sound opinion is that the excrement and droppings of animals whose meat is lawful to eat (e.g., goats) are pure (ṭāhir). Therefore, praying in their pens is permissible, even if droppings are on the ground and there is nothing to lay down.
◈ 17 Evidences Supporting This Ruling
➊ Hadith of Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Pray in the sheep enclosures, and do not pray in camel enclosures.”
(Tirmidhī 1/81, Ḥadīth 348; al-Mishkāh 1/21)
✔ This implies the purity of goat/sheep urine and droppings.
➋ Prophetic Practice & Early Mosque Context
Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ used to pray in goat pens before the mosque was built.
(Bukhārī 1/37, 61)
✔ No mention of a mat—he likely prayed directly on the ground.
➌ Statement of Imām al-Bukhārī & Practice of Ṣaḥābah
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) addressed this issue explicitly.
Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه) prayed on soil with droppings and said:
“There’s no difference in purity here or there.”
(Bukhārī 1/36; Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/267)
➍ Ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) – Expedition of Tabūk
Narrated by ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
Some companions squeezed camel dung for moisture during a drought and placed it on their chests.
(al-Ḥākim 1/159)
✔ Imām al-Ḏhahabī affirmed its authenticity.
➤ If the dung were impure, the Prophet ﷺ would not have allowed this.
➎ Jurisprudential Principle: Original Purity
The default ruling in Sharīʿah is:
All things are pure unless proven impure.
Since no proof exists declaring such droppings impure, they remain pure.
➏ Ḥadīth of ʿUrainah
The Prophet ﷺ permitted certain individuals to drink camel urine and milk.
(Muslim 2/57; Aṣḥāb al-Sunan)
✔ The command was general, applying to the Ummah.
➐ Tawāf Performed on Animal Mounts
The Prophet ﷺ performed ṭawāf riding an animal, and Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) was permitted to do the same.
(Bukhārī 1/221; Muslim 1/413)
✔ Had animal excretion been impure, this would have defiled the Ḥaram, which is not permissible.
➑ Common Practice in Madinah
It was customary in Madinah not to consider the urine of lawful animals impure.
(Bayhaqī 1/252; Dāraqutnī Ḥadīth 47; Mishkāh 1/516)
➤ Though some chains are weak, the consistent practice of the Companions is noteworthy.
➒ Incident of Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه)
Mushrikūn of Quraysh placed camel intestines on the Prophet’s ﷺ back during sajdah.
(Bukhārī 1/37)
✔ The Prophet ﷺ completed his prayer—proof that the excretion was not najis.
➓ Ḥadīth About Jinn’s Food
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not perform istinjāʾ with dung or bones, for they are the food of your jinn brothers.”
(Tirmidhī 1/11; Nasā’ī 1/16; Mishkāh 1/42)
✔ Had droppings been impure, they would not be food for the jinn.
❶❶ Absence of Direct Prohibitions
Despite the Prophet ﷺ’s close association with such animals, no explicit instruction was ever issued forbidding prayer in their pens.
❶❷ Practice of Companions and Tābiʿīn
ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr (رحمه الله) said:
His goat used to drop dung on his prayer space.
Abū Jaʿfar al-Bāqir (رحمه الله) and Nāfiʿ Mawlā Ibn ʿUmar (رحمه الله) also stated:
There is no harm if camel urine gets on garments or turbans.
❶❸ Difference Between Cleanliness and Purity
Sometimes droppings may be washed off, not due to impurity, but simply for cleanliness.
➤ Naẓāfah (cleanliness) ≠ Ṭahārah (ritual purity)
❶❹ Crop Contamination & Halal Grains
Animals would urinate while grazing on grain crops, yet the crops (e.g., wheat, barley) were still deemed ḥalāl.
(Imām Ṭaḥāwī 1/84)
Only al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله) expressed dislike.
❶❺ Ḥadīth of “Riks” (Impurity)
Narrated by Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
He brought two stones and dung for istinjāʾ. The Prophet ﷺ rejected the dung and said:
“This is riks.”
(1/72)
✔ Possible explanations:
– It may have been human or non-slaughtered animal dung
– “Riks” doesn’t always mean impure; it may mean disliked or rejected
❶❻ Practice of Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه)
He performed ṣalāh without wudu, despite contact with camel dung and blood.
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/392; ʿAbd al-Razzāq 1/125; Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr 9/284)
❶❼ Statement of Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه)
“I don’t mind slaughtering a camel and becoming covered with dung and blood, then praying without using water.”
(Jadāt 2/887, Ḥadīth 2503)
✔ Although there’s some discussion on the chain, the meaning is clear and supports the ruling.
Final Summary:
All these evidences affirm that:
◈ Goat droppings, urine, and dung are pure (ṭāhir)
◈ Salah is permissible in goat pens—even directly on the ground
◈ No authentic evidence proves them impure (najis)
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
