2/81. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 621 — Follow the Imam in Prayer
The One Behind The Imam Has Been Commanded To Follow The Imam
Hadith About Following the Imam in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 621
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 621
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبَانَ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ، - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا الْكُوفِيُّونَ، أَبَانُ وَغَيْرُهُ - عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ يَحْنُو أَحَدٌ مِنَّا ظَهْرَهُ حَتَّى يَرَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَضَعُ .
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib Narrated from:
We used to pray along with the prophet (ﷺ); none of us bowed his back until he saw that the prophet (ﷺ) bowed (his back).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 621In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 231English translation : Book 2, Hadith 621
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 621
This Hadith is about following the Imam in prayer with care and calm timing. Al-Bara b. Azib describes how the Companions prayed with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. They did not bow their backs until they saw that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had bowed. The main lesson is clear: in congregational prayer, people do not rush ahead of the leader. A person praying behind the Imam watches the Imam and follows after his action becomes clear. This gives the prayer order, unity, and respect. The Hadith does not discuss extra rulings or special cases; it simply shows the practice of waiting before moving into bowing. For anyone searching for a hadith about following the Imam, this narration gives a direct and easy example.
What we learn from this hadith
- Follow the Imam after his movement becomes clear.
- Do not rush into bowing before the prayer leader bows.
- Congregational prayer should be orderly and calm.
- The Companions learned prayer timing by watching the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
