2/72. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 597 — Imam Standing Higher
On The Imam Standing In A Location Above The Level Of Congregation
Hadith About the Imam Standing Higher Than the People
Sunan Abi Dawud : 597
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 597
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْفُرَاتِ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الرَّازِيُّ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، أَنَّ حُذَيْفَةَ أَمَّ النَّاسَ، بِالْمَدَائِنِ عَلَى دُكَّانٍ فَأَخَذَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ بِقَمِيصِهِ فَجَبَذَهُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ قَالَ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُنْهَوْنَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ بَلَى قَدْ ذَكَرْتُ حِينَ مَدَدْتَنِي .
Hammam Narrated from:
Hudhaifah led the people in prayer in al-Mada’in standing on the shop(or a bench). Abu Mas’ud took him by his shirt, and brought him down. When he( Abu Mas’ud) finished his prayer, he said: Do you not know that they(the people) were prohibited to do so. He said: Yes, I remembered when you pulled me down.
[1] It may also be recited such that the meaning is: "they were prohibited from this" which is in accordance with the following narration.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 597In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 207English translation : Book 2, Hadith 597
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 597
This Hadith reports that Hudhaifah led people in prayer in al-Mada'in while standing on a shop or bench. Abu Mas'ud took him by his shirt and brought him down. After the prayer, Abu Mas'ud asked him if he did not know that people had been prohibited from doing that. Hudhaifah replied that he remembered when Abu Mas'ud pulled him down. The Hadith about an imam standing higher than the congregation teaches a practical point about the imam’s position in prayer. It also shows a calm correction. Abu Mas'ud acted during the situation, and Hudhaifah accepted the reminder when he remembered. The focus is on keeping prayer practice in line with what had been taught.
What we learn from this hadith
- The imam should not stand on a raised place above the people in this situation.
- Abu Mas'ud corrected the matter when he saw it happen.
- Hudhaifah accepted the reminder after he remembered.
- Prayer leadership includes following the taught form of the prayer.
