2/134. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 794 — Lead Prayer Briefly for People
What Has Been Narrated Concerning The Deficiency Of The Prayer
Hadith About Shortening Prayer When Leading People
Sunan Abi Dawud : 794
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 794
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَإِذَا صَلَّى لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
When one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief, for among them are the weak, the sick, and the aged. But when one of you prays by himself, he may pray as long as he likes.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 794In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 404English translation : Book 2, Hadith 794
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 794
This hadith gives a broad rule for leading people in prayer. Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said when one of you leads people in prayer, he should be brief. The reason is that among the people there may be the weak, the sick, and the aged. But when someone prays alone, he may lengthen the prayer as much as he likes. The hadith clearly separates private prayer from congregational prayer. Alone, a person has room to pray longer. As an imam, he must think about the people behind him. This is a key hadith about shortening prayer and shows that prayer leadership should be gentle, practical, and aware of different conditions.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should keep prayer brief for the people.
- Weak, sick, and aged people must be considered.
- Private prayer may be longer according to the person's ability.
- Congregational prayer should not ignore people's condition.
