2/133. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 789 — Shortening Prayer for a Crying Child
Making The Prayer Shorter Due To An Unexpected Occurrence
Hadith About Shortening Prayer When a Child Cries
Sunan Abi Dawud : 789
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 789
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ، وَبِشْرُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي لأَقُومُ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُطَوِّلَ فِيهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمِّهِ " .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
Abu Qatadah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: I stand up to pray and intend to prolong it; but when I hear the cry of a boy I shorten if for fear that his mother might be distressed.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 789In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 399English translation : Book 2, Hadith 788
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 789
This hadith shows mercy inside congregational prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that he would stand for prayer intending to make it long. But when he heard the cry of a boy, he would shorten it because he disliked causing hardship to the child's mother. The hadith is not about leaving prayer careless or rushing without need. It is about an imam being aware of the people praying behind him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed real human needs, even during worship. For people searching for the hadith about a crying baby in prayer, the message is clear: prayer leadership should include care, mercy, and awareness. A longer prayer may be intended, but the situation of the congregation matters.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should care about the people praying behind him.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم shortened prayer when he heard a child crying.
- Avoiding hardship for a mother is directly mentioned in the hadith.
- Prayer leadership includes mercy and attention to people's condition.
