2/74. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 604 — Listening Behind the Imam
About The Imam Praying While Sitting Down
Hadith About Following the Imam and Listening in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 604
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 604
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ آدَمَ الْمَصِّيصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ " . بِهَذَا الْخَبَرِ زَادَ " وَإِذَا قَرَأَ فَأَنْصِتُوا " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذِهِ الزِّيَادَةُ " وَإِذَا قَرَأَ فَأَنْصِتُوا " . لَيْسَتْ بِمَحْفُوظَةٍ الْوَهَمُ عِنْدَنَا مِنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ .
AbuHurayrah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The imam is appointed only to be followed. This version adds: When he recites (the Qur'an), keep silent." Abu Dawud said: The addition of the words "When he recites, keep silent" in this version are not guarded. The misunderstanding, according to us, is on the part of Abu Khalid (a narrator).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 604In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 214English translation : Book 2, Hadith 604
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 604
This narration centers on the well-known phrase the imam is appointed to be followed. It also mentions an added wording: when the imam recites, keep silent. Abu Dawud then notes that this added wording in this version is not guarded, and he attributes the misunderstanding to Abu Khalid. So the safe explanation must stay close to the text. The main teaching that remains clear in the narration is following the imam in prayer. The note about the addition is also important because it shows care in preserving Hadith wording. For readers searching imam recitation hadith, this Hadith is useful because it shows both the prayer instruction and the narrator’s caution about wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- The imam is appointed to be followed in congregational prayer.
- Hadith wording is treated with care by the scholars of narration.
- Abu Dawud notes that the added phrase about recitation is not guarded in this version.
- The explanation should not build extra rulings beyond the wording provided.
