Is it haram to spit in the mosque?
Yes, spitting in the mosque is not allowed. The Prophet ﷺ called it a sin, and its expiation was to bury it in the days when mosque floors were sand. Today, with carpets, simply use a tissue and throw it away outside.
What the hadith says
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Spitting in the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is to bury it" (Sahih al-Bukhari 415, Sahih Muslim 552). He also disliked seeing spit on the qibla wall, and once scraped some off with his own hand, which shows how much he cared about the mosque being clean (Sahih al-Bukhari 405).
Because the hadith calls it a sin, most scholars treat spitting on a mosque floor as prohibited, not merely bad manners. Spitting toward the qibla during prayer is specifically forbidden.
Why "burying" doesn't work today
In the Prophet's ﷺ time, the floor of his mosque was sand and pebbles, so covering spit removed it. Modern mosques have carpets where people put their foreheads down in sujood. Scholars today say the equivalent is not to spit at all; if it happens by accident, clean it straight away. If something dirty does land on the carpet, see How do I clean a najis carpet?
What about a cold or a cough?
Islam doesn't make life hard. If you have a cold:
- Keep tissues in your pocket and use them discreetly for phlegm or a runny nose.
- Put used tissues in your pocket or a bin, never on the floor or in the rows.
- If you need to clear your throat properly, step out to the washroom.
- If you're very contagious, praying at home is kinder to everyone.
Swallowing your own saliva is completely normal and not an issue, even while fasting. See Does swallowing my spit break my fast?
Spitting outside the mosque
Spitting in the street isn't haram in itself, but Islam values not harming or disgusting others. Removing harm from a path is a branch of faith (Sahih Muslim 35), so spitting where people walk sits uncomfortably with that spirit. It's the same reasoning behind avoiding strong smells at the mosque. See Can I eat garlic before going to the mosque?
- Spitting in the mosque is called a sin in the hadith.
- Never spit toward the qibla, especially while praying.
- On carpets, use a tissue instead of "burying" it.
- A cold is no problem if you're discreet and clean.
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