2/72. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 598 — Do Not Lead from a Higher Place
On The Imam Standing In A Location Above The Level Of Congregation
Hadith: The Imam Should Not Stand Higher Than the Congregation
Sunan Abi Dawud : 598
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 598
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ بِالْمَدَائِنِ فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَتَقَدَّمَ عَمَّارٌ وَقَامَ عَلَى دُكَّانٍ يُصَلِّي وَالنَّاسُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْهُ فَتَقَدَّمَ حُذَيْفَةُ فَأَخَذَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَاتَّبَعَهُ عَمَّارٌ حَتَّى أَنْزَلَهُ حُذَيْفَةُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ عَمَّارٌ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ قَالَ لَهُ حُذَيْفَةُ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِذَا أَمَّ الرَّجُلُ الْقَوْمَ فَلاَ يَقُمْ فِي مَكَانٍ أَرْفَعَ مِنْ مَقَامِهِمْ " . أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ عَمَّارٌ لِذَلِكَ اتَّبَعْتُكَ حِينَ أَخَذْتَ عَلَى يَدَىَّ .
‘Adi b. Thabit al-Ansari Narrated from:
A man related to me that (once) he was in the company of ‘Ammar b. yasir in al-Mada’in (a city near Ku’fah). The IQAMAH was called for prayer: ‘Ammar came forward and stood on a shop (or a beach) and prayed while the people stood on a lower place than he. Hudaifah came forward and took him by the hands and Ammar followed him till Hudaifah brought him down.When ‘Ammar finished his prayer. Hudaifah said to him: Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) say: When a man leads the people in prayer, he must not stand in a position higher than theirs, or words to that effect? ‘Ammar replied : that is why I followed you when you took me by the hand.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 598In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 208English translation : Book 2, Hadith 598
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 598
This Hadith gives a direct report about the imam’s place in prayer. Ammar b. Yasir stood on a shop or bench to lead prayer while the people stood lower than him. Hudhaifah took him by the hands and brought him down. After the prayer, Hudhaifah reminded him of the statement of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم): when a man leads people in prayer, he must not stand in a place higher than theirs, or words to that effect. Ammar accepted the correction and said this was why he followed when Hudhaifah took his hand. This Hadith about imam position in salah teaches humility, order, and following the Prophet’s instruction in the physical arrangement of prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The imam should not stand higher than the people he leads.
- Hudhaifah corrected the imam’s position during the prayer setting.
- Ammar accepted the correction without argument.
- The narration shows care for the physical arrangement of congregational prayer.
