2/71. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 596 — Guest Should Not Lead Prayer
A Visitor Being Imam
Hadith About a Visitor Not Leading the People in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 596
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 596
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، عَنْ بُدَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَطِيَّةَ، مَوْلًى مِنَّا قَالَ كَانَ مَالِكُ بْنُ حُوَيْرِثٍ يَأْتِينَا إِلَى مُصَلاَّنَا هَذَا فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ تَقَدَّمْ فَصَلِّهْ . فَقَالَ لَنَا قَدِّمُوا رَجُلاً مِنْكُمْ يُصَلِّي بِكُمْ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكُمْ لِمَ لاَ أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ زَارَ قَوْمًا فَلاَ يَؤُمَّهُمْ وَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ " .
Abu 'Atiyyah Narrated from:
Malik b. al-Huwairith came to this place of prayer of ours, and the iqamah for prayer was called. We said to him: Come forward and lead the prayer. He said to us: Put one of your own men forward to lead you in prayer. I heard the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) say: If anyone visits people, he should not lead them in prayer, but some person of them should lead the prayer.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 596In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 206English translation : Book 2, Hadith 596
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 596
This Hadith teaches a clear manner for prayer leadership. Malik b. al-Huwairith came to a prayer place, and when the iqamah was called, the people asked him to come forward and lead. He refused and told them to put one of their own men forward. He then explained that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say that if anyone visits people, he should not lead them in prayer, but someone from among them should lead. This Hadith about a guest leading prayer is about respect and local responsibility. A visitor should not take the imam position over the people he is visiting unless the matter is handled according to proper permission and order.
What we learn from this hadith
- A visitor should not take the imam position over the people he visits.
- One of the local people should lead their prayer.
- Malik explained his action by quoting the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The Hadith teaches respect for the people of a place.
