2/52. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 552 — Blind Man and Congregation
The Severity Of Not Attending The Congregational Prayer
Hadith About Ibn Umm Maktum Hearing the Adhan
Sunan Abi Dawud : 552
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 552
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ بَهْدَلَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي رَزِينٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ ضَرِيرُ الْبَصَرِ شَاسِعُ الدَّارِ وَلِي قَائِدٌ لاَ يُلاَئِمُنِي فَهَلْ لِي رُخْصَةٌ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِي قَالَ " هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " لاَ أَجِدُ لَكَ رُخْصَةً " .
Amr ibn Za'dah, Ibn Umm Maktum Narrated from:
Ibn Umm Maktum asked the Prophet (ﷺ) saying: Messenger of Allah, I am a blind man, my house is far away (from the mosque), and I have a guide who does not follow me. Is it possible that permission be granted to me for saying prayer in my house? He asked: Do you hear summons (adhan)? He said: Yes. He said: I do not find any permission for you.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 552In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 162English translation : Book 2, Hadith 552
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 552
This Hadith about Ibn Umm Maktum and congregational prayer is very direct. Ibn Umm Maktum told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that he was blind, lived far from the mosque, and had a guide who did not suit him. He asked for permission to pray in his house. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked whether he heard the summons, meaning the Adhan. When he replied yes, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he did not find any permission for him. The Hadith focuses on hearing the call and responding to it. It should not be expanded beyond the facts in the narration, but it clearly shows the weight given to attending the congregation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umm Maktum asked for permission because of blindness, distance, and guide difficulty.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked whether he could hear the Adhan.
- When he said yes, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not grant him permission in this report.
