75/12. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5658 — Following the Imam in Prayer
If one visited a patient and the time of the Salat became due
Hadith About Following the Imam in Prayer During Illness
Sahih Bukhari : 5658
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5658
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ نَاسٌ يَعُودُونَهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ جَالِسًا فَجَعَلُوا يُصَلُّونَ قِيَامًا، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمِ اجْلِسُوا، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ " إِنَّ الإِمَامَ لَيُؤْتَمُّ بِهِ، فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا، وَإِنْ صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحُمَيْدِيُّ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مَنْسُوخٌ لأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم آخِرَ مَا صَلَّى صَلَّى قَاعِدًا وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ قِيَامٌ.
A'isha Narrated from:
During the ailment of the Prophet (ﷺ) some people came to visits him. He led them in prayer while sitting. but they prayed standing, so he waved to them to sit down. When he had finished the prayer, he said, "An Imam is to be followed, so when he bows, you should bow. and when he raises his head, you should raise yours, and if he prays sitting. you should pray sitting." Abu `Abdullah said Al-Humaidi said, (The order of) "This narration has been abrogated by the last action of the Prophet (ﷺ) as he led the prayer sitting, while the people prayed standing behind him.'
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5658In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 562
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5658
This Hadith happened during the illness of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Some people came to visit him, and he led them in prayer while sitting. They began praying while standing, so he signaled for them to sit. After finishing, he said that the Imam is to be followed. When the Imam bows, the followers bow. When he raises his head, they raise theirs. In this narration, he also said that if the Imam prays sitting, they should pray sitting. The provided text also includes a note from Abu Abdullah quoting Al-Humaidi that this narration was abrogated by the last action of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. So the explanation should stay careful: the main teaching in the text is following the Imam and not differing from him during prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Imam is to be followed in the movements of prayer.
- Followers should bow and rise after the Imam’s actions.
- The narration took place during the Prophet’s illness.
- The included note says this specific sitting order was later considered abrogated.
