2/65. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 581 — Refusing to Lead Prayer
It Is Disliked To Refuse The Position Of Imam
Hadith About Refusing to Be Imam in the Mosque
Sunan Abi Dawud : 581
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 581
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ، حَدَّثَتْنِي طَلْحَةُ أُمُّ غُرَابٍ، عَنْ عَقِيلَةَ، - امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي فَزَارَةَ مَوْلاَةٌ لَهُمْ - عَنْ سَلاَمَةَ بِنْتِ الْحُرِّ، أُخْتِ خَرَشَةَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ الْفَزَارِيِّ قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَتَدَافَعَ أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ لاَ يَجِدُونَ إِمَامًا يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ " .
Sulamah daughter of al-Hurr Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: One of the signs of the Last Hour will be that people in a mosque will refuse to act as imam and will not find an imam to lead them in prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 581In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 191English translation : Book 2, Hadith 581
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 581
This Hadith speaks about a serious sign connected to mosque leadership and prayer. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that one sign of the Last Hour is that people in a mosque will push the role of imam away from one another until they cannot find anyone to lead them in prayer. The main lesson is not about seeking status. It is about responsibility. In congregational prayer, someone must step forward when needed. A person who is able to lead should not treat the imam position as something to avoid without reason. This Hadith about imam leadership reminds Muslims that prayer in the mosque needs order, courage, and a sense of duty.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mosque prayer needs someone willing and able to lead.
- Avoiding responsibility without need can harm the congregation.
- Leadership in prayer should be taken seriously, not treated as a burden to push away.
- The Hadith connects weak willingness to lead prayer with a sign of the Last Hour.
