English translation
479. It was reported from Hammād, that Ayyūb narrated from Nāfi‘, from Ibn ‘Umar, who said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was once giving a sermon when he saw some phlegm (in the front wall) in the direction of the Qiblah of the Masjid. So he became angry at the people, then scratched it away (with something). And I think that he called for some saffron and covered (the spot) with it. He then said: ‘Indeed, Allāh is facing one of you when he prays, so let him not spit in front of him.’” (Sahih) Abū Dāwūd said: Ismā‘il and ‘Abdul-Wārith reported it from Ayyūb, from Nāfi‘ — (as did) Mālik, ‘Ubaidullāh, and Mūsā bin ‘Uqbah from Nāfi’ — similar to that narrated by Hammād, except that they did not mention the saffron. Ma’mar reported it from Ayyūb and he mentioned the saffron in it. And Yaḥyā bin Sulaim narrating it from ‘Ubaidullāh, from Nāfi’, mentioned Khalūq.[1]