2/189. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 973 — Listening in Prayer
The Tashah-hud
Listening in Prayer and Tashahhud: Silence, Oneness, and Careful Reporting
Sunan Abi Dawud : 973
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 973
حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي غَلاَّبٍ، يُحَدِّثُهُ عَنْ حِطَّانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرَّقَاشِيِّ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ زَادَ " فَإِذَا قَرَأَ فَأَنْصِتُوا " . وَقَالَ فِي التَّشَهُّدِ بَعْدَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ زَادَ " وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَوْلُهُ " فَأَنْصِتُوا " . لَيْسَ بِمَحْفُوظٍ لَمْ يَجِئْ بِهِ إِلاَّ سُلَيْمَانُ التَّيْمِيُّ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ .
Hittan b. ‘Abd Allah al-Ruqashi Narrated from:
This tradition has also been transmitted by Hittan b. ‘Abd Allah al-Ruqashi through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: When he( the imam) recites the Qur’an, keep silence(and listen attentively). And in the tashahhud this version adds after the words “I testify that there is no god but Allah” the words “He is alone, and there is no associate of Him.” Abu Dawud said: His word "And keep silence" is not guarded; it has been narrated by Sulaiman al-Taimi alone in his version.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 973In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 584English translation : Book 2, Hadith 968
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 973
This hadith is a version of the previous report through a different chain. It adds the phrase that when the imam recites the Qur’an, the people should keep silent and listen. It also adds in the Tashahhud, after “I testify that there is no god but Allah,” the words “He is alone, and there is no associate of Him.” For search terms like listening behind imam, Tashahhud wording, and no partner with Allah in Tashahhud, the report gives two main points. Abu Dawud then notes that the phrase “keep silence” is not guarded in this narration and was narrated only by Sulaiman al-Taimi in this hadith. This teaches careful reading of hadith wording and attention to what is firmly reported.
What we learn from this hadith
- The version adds keeping silent when the Qur’an is recited.
- The Tashahhud wording includes Allah’s oneness and no associate in this report.
- Abu Dawud notes a caution about the added phrase “keep silence.”
