Sahih Muslim The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts

When any of you yawns, let him put his hand over his mouth, for indeed, the devil enters

Chapter: Saying: "May Allah Have Mercy On You" To One Who Sneezes, And Yawning Is Disliked

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Sahih Muslim 2995a

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، مَالِكُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُهَيْلُ بْنُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنًا، لأَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ يُحَدِّثُ أَبِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

إِذَا تَثَاوَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُمْسِكْ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى فِيهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ ‏"

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"When any of you yawns, let him put his hand over his mouth, for indeed, the devil enters."

Reported by Muslim (No. 2995a, 2995b, 2995c), Abu Dawud (No. 5026, 5027), Ahmad (No. 10832, 10895, 11455, 11480) and Ad-Darimi (No. 1347).

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) instructed anyone who yawns, opening his mouth due to laziness, fullness, or similar reasons, to place his hand over his mouth to close it. This is because the devil enters if the mouth is left open, and placing the hand prevents him from entering.

Lessons

If a person feels the urge to yawn, he should suppress it as much as possible by keeping his mouth closed. If he is unable to keep his mouth closed, he should put his hand over his mouth to cover it with his hand.
Adherence to the etiquettes of Islam in all situations because they are the epitome of perfection and morals.
Caution against all the devil's access points to man.

Explanation in Arabic

أَرْشَدَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَن تَثاءبَ بأن فتح فمه بسبب الكسل أو الامتلاء ونحو ذلك؛ بأنْ يضع يدَه على فَمِه فيُغْلِقه بها؛ وذلك لأن الشيطان يدخل فيه إذا تركه مفتوحًا، فوَضْعُ اليد يكون مانعًا من دخوله.

إذا أراد الإنسان أن يتثاءب فعليه أنْ يَكْظِمَ ما استطاع، بأنْ يُمْسِكَ على فِيه، فيُبقيه مُغلقًا بحيث لا ينفتح، فإن لم يستطع إبقاء فمِهِ مغلقًا فليضع يدَه على فيه، فيُغَطِّي فاه بيده.
التزام آداب الإسلام في جميع الحالات؛ لأنها عنوان الكمال والأخلاق.
الحذر من كل مَدَاخِل الشيطان على الإنسان.

Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 2995b

When one of you yawns, he should try to restrain it with cue help of his hand since it is the Satan that enters therein.

إِذَا تَثَاوَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُمْسِكْ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Authentic Sahih Muslim 2995c

The son of Abu Said al-Khudri reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said. When one of you yawns while engaged in prayer, he should try to restrain so far as it lies in his power, since it is the Satan that enter therein.

إِذَا تَثَاوَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيَكْظِمْ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Differing grades Sunan Abu Dawud 5026

When one of you yawns, he should hold his hand over his mouth, for the devil enters.

إِذَا تَثَاءَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُمْسِكْ عَلَى فِيهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 5027

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted in a similar way by Suhail through a different chain of narrators. This version has; “during prayer, so he should hold as far as possible”.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ وَكِيعٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، نَحْوَهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيَكْظِمْ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Not graded Musnad Ahmad 10832