The hadith about spitting to the left during prayer to ward off waswas: is it in the obligatory prayer or the voluntary prayer?

The questioner : There is a hadith about spitting during prayer to drive away the whispers of Satan, seeking refuge; is this action restricted to voluntary prayer or to praying alone, given that if the row is tightly packed, Satan is not on the left if this is the reason? What is your opinion on this?

The Shaykh : I did not understand the last sentence: that Satan is not on his left if he is in congregational prayer?

The questioner : Yes, meaning if the reason for spitting to the left is to drive away Satan because that is his position, then if the row is tightly packed, do we leave off this spitting given that Satan is not between the worshippers?

The Shaykh : There are two matters here that appear to me from this question. This hadith is, of course, in Sahih Muslim, from the hadith of Uthman ibn Abi al-As (may Allah be pleased with him). I do not recall it containing a reason for spitting to the left being that Satan is on his left. Do you recall if it contains anything of this?

The questioner : No, it does not contain a reason.

The Shaykh : This is what I remember, this is the first point. Yes, and the other point is: if there is a Satan in this direction, and we have no evidence, where did the evidence come from that Satan left if there is another worshipper on his left praying beside him? So I consider that the reasoning is based on a reasoning that has no basis. Here it is said, "How can the shadow be straight while the stick is crooked?" And based on that, I say it should be implemented according to the general ruling, whether in voluntary prayer alone, or in obligatory prayer alone, or in congregational voluntary prayer, or in congregational obligatory prayer. The text should be implemented in its literal sense and not restricted by conditions that the Wise Lawgiver did not bring. However, there is no doubt that spitting to the left direction may hit the person on his left, but this is not a problem because he can spit and prevent the spray of the spit from reaching his companion. This is exactly like the authentic hadiths that were reported that if a worshipper is overcome by phlegm, it is not permissible for him to spit to his right, nor is it permissible for him to spit in front of him toward his qiblah to which he is praying, but rather to his left under his foot. So if he wants to spit to his left, he spits in such a way that it does not hit his companion's face. Likewise, in the hadith of Uthman ibn Abi al-As, the text must be implemented in its general sense as we mentioned; but he must be careful not to hit his neighbor who is praying on his left with the spray of his spit.