2/14. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 431 — Pray at the Proper Time
(What Should Be Done) If the Imam Delays The Prayer
Pray at the Proper Time Hadith: When Leaders Delay Salah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 431
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 431
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، - يَعْنِي الْجَوْنِيَّ - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَلَيْكَ أُمَرَاءُ يُمِيتُونَ الصَّلاَةَ " . أَوْ قَالَ " يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ " صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَهَا مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَكَ نَافِلَةٌ " .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me: 'How will you act, Abu Dharr, when you are under rulers who kill prayer or delay it (beyond its proper time) ?' I said: 'Messenger of Allah, what do you command me ?' He replied: 'Offer the prayer at its proper time, and if you say it along with them, say it, for it will be a supererogatory prayer for you.'
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 431In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 41English translation : Book 2, Hadith 431
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 431
This Hadith speaks about a difficult situation: rulers who delay prayer beyond its proper time. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked Abu Dharr how he would act when under such rulers. Abu Dharr asked what he should do. The answer was clear: offer the prayer at its proper time. Then, if he caught the prayer with them, he could pray with them, and it would be a supererogatory prayer for him. The Hadith keeps personal responsibility at the center. A believer should not allow others’ delay to make him miss the proper prayer time. At the same time, the narration allows joining them afterward as an extra prayer, as stated in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- A Muslim should pray at the proper time even if others delay it.
- Joining the delayed congregational prayer afterward can count as a supererogatory prayer.
- The Hadith teaches personal care for Salah time in a public situation.
