2/14. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 434 — Delayed Prayer with Rulers
(What Should Be Done) If the Imam Delays The Prayer
Delayed Prayer with Rulers: Pray with Them Facing the Qiblah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 434
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 434
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هَاشِمٍ، - يَعْنِي الزَّعْفَرَانِيَّ - حَدَّثَنِي صَالِحُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَرَاءُ مِنْ بَعْدِي يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَهِيَ لَكُمْ وَهِيَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَصَلُّوا مَعَهُمْ مَا صَلَّوُا الْقِبْلَةَ " .
Qabisah ibn Waqqas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: After me you will be ruled by rulers who will delay the prayer and it will be to your credit but to their discredit. So pray with them so long as they pray facing the qiblah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 434In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 44English translation : Book 2, Hadith 434
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 434
This Hadith speaks about rulers after the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who would delay the prayer. The wording says that this delayed prayer would be to the believers’ credit but to the rulers’ discredit. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed: pray with them so long as they pray facing the qiblah. The core topic is delayed prayer behind rulers or leaders. The narration does not give a long legal discussion. It gives a short principle for a real public situation: the delay is not approved for the ones causing it, but the believer can still pray with them while they are praying toward the qiblah. This keeps the prayer connected to worship and direction, not to political approval.
What we learn from this hadith
- Rulers delaying prayer are described as bearing discredit for that delay.
- Believers may pray with them so long as they pray facing the qiblah.
- The Hadith separates the believer’s prayer from the fault of those who delay it.
