2/116. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 701 — Respecting Someone in Prayer
The Prohibition Of Passing In Front Of One Who Is Praying
Hadith About Passing in Front of Someone Praying
Sunan Abi Dawud : 701
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 701
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيَّ، أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى أَبِي جُهَيْمٍ يَسْأَلُهُ مَاذَا سَمِعَ مِنْ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْمَارِّ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الْمُصَلِّي فَقَالَ أَبُو جُهَيْمٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمَارُّ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الْمُصَلِّي مَاذَا عَلَيْهِ لَكَانَ أَنْ يَقِفَ أَرْبَعِينَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَمُرَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو النَّضْرِ لاَ أَدْرِي قَالَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ شَهْرًا أَوْ سَنَةً .
Abu Juhaim Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) as saying: "If one who passes in front of a man who is praying knew the responsibility he incurs, he would prefer to stand still for forty. . . rather than pass in front of him. Abu al-Nadr said: I do not know whether he said forty days, or months, or years." Abu Dawud: Sufyan al-Thawri said: If a man passes proudly in front of me while I am praying, I shall stop him, and if a weak man passes, I shall not stop him.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 701In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 311English translation : Book 2, Hadith 701
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 701
This Hadith teaches respect for a person who is standing in prayer. The main message is simple: do not pass directly in front of someone praying. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if the person passing knew the responsibility he was taking on, he would rather stand still for forty than pass in front of the worshipper. The narrator was not sure whether forty meant days, months, or years, so we should not state one of them as certain. The Hadith about passing in front of someone praying reminds us that prayer is a serious act of worship, and others should not disturb it. It also shows care for prayer focus, prayer manners, and the space of the worshipper.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person praying should be treated with respect and care.
- Passing directly in front of a worshipper is shown as a serious matter.
- When a narrator is unsure about wording, that uncertainty should be kept clear.
- Good prayer etiquette includes avoiding actions that disturb another person’s prayer.
