2/52. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 547 — Prayer in Congregation
The Severity Of Not Attending The Congregational Prayer
Hadith About Prayer in Congregation and Staying With the Jamaah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 547
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 547
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا السَّائِبُ بْنُ حُبَيْشٍ، عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَلاَ بَدْوٍ لاَ تُقَامُ فِيهِمُ الصَّلاَةُ إِلاَّ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَعَلَيْكَ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ " . قَالَ زَائِدَةُ قَالَ السَّائِبُ يَعْنِي بِالْجَمَاعَةِ الصَّلاَةَ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ .
Abud Darda’ Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If there are three men in a village or in the desert among whom prayer is not offered (in congregation), the devil has got the mastery over them. So observe (prayer) in congregation), for the wolf eats only the straggling animal. Sa'ib said: By the word Jama'ah he meant saying prayer in company or in congregation.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 547In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 157English translation : Book 2, Hadith 547
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 547
This Hadith about prayer in congregation gives a clear warning. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if three men are in a village or desert and prayer is not established among them, the devil gains mastery over them. He then said to observe the Jamaah, giving the example that the wolf eats the animal that strays away. Saib explained that Jamaah here means praying in company or in congregation. The message is direct: do not make prayer a lonely habit when people are able to gather. The Hadith teaches that congregational prayer protects the group and keeps people connected to worship together.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer should be established among people even in a village or desert.
- The Hadith warns against leaving the Jamaah when people are present.
- The example of the wolf shows the danger of being cut off from the group.
