Question:
He asks about a practice some people mention during prayer. When a person is praying and distracting thoughts come to his mind, he is told to spit lightly to the left three times and say “A‘ūdhu billāhi min ash-shayṭān ir-rajīm.” He asks whether there is any evidence for this.
Answer:
Yes, there is evidence for this in Sahih Muslim. A companion named Uthman ibn Abil-‘As complained to the Prophetﷺ that Satan interfered with his prayer and caused confusion in his recitation. Sometimes while reciting Qur’an in prayer he would become confused or forget what he was reciting.
The Prophetﷺ replied that there is a devil assigned specifically to disturb people in prayer, and his name is Khanzab. When you feel his influence—when you notice confusion or distraction in your prayer—you should seek refuge in Allahﷻ from him and lightly spit to your left three times.
This spitting is not actual spitting that produces saliva. It is only a symbolic gesture, a light blowing motion to the left. The companion said that he followed this instruction, and Allahﷻ removed that problem from him.
From this hadith we learn that when distractions occur in prayer, one may seek refuge in Allahﷻ and lightly blow to the left three times. This is a Sunnah method for dealing with intrusive thoughts during prayer.