2/52. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 548 — Warning for Missing Jamaah
The Severity Of Not Attending The Congregational Prayer
Hadith About Missing Congregational Prayer Without Attending
Sunan Abi Dawud : 548
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 548
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَتُقَامَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لاَ يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying; I thought to give orders for arranging prayer in congregation, and then to have the Iqamah called for it, then to order a man to lead the people in prayer, then to go off in company of the people who have bundles of firewood to those people who are not present at the prayer and then to burn down their houses with fire.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 548In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 158English translation : Book 2, Hadith 548
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 548
This Hadith about missing congregational prayer contains very strong words. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم thought of ordering the prayer to be arranged, the Iqamah to be called, and a man to lead the people. Then he thought of going with men carrying firewood to those who were not present at the prayer and burning their houses. The Hadith does not say this was carried out. It reports the severity of the warning and shows how serious absence from congregational prayer was treated in the wording of the narration. The core topic is Jamaah prayer and the danger of neglecting it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith gives a strong warning about staying away from congregational prayer.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم thought of appointing someone else to lead prayer in this report.
- The wording shows the serious nature of missing the prayer gathering.
