93/13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7159 — Shorten Congregational Prayer
Can a judge give a judgement in an angry mood?
Hadith About Shortening Congregational Prayer for People
Sahih Bukhari : 7159
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7159
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لأَتَأَخَّرُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ مِنْ أَجْلِ فُلاَنٍ، مِمَّا يُطِيلُ بِنَا فِيهَا. قَالَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَطُّ أَشَدَّ غَضَبًا فِي مَوْعِظَةٍ مِنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ، فَأَيُّكُمْ مَا صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُوجِزْ، فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ ".
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari Narrated from:
A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! By Allah, I fail to attend the morning congregational prayer because so-and-so (i.e., Mu`adh bin Jabal) prolongs the prayer when he leads us for it." I had never seen the Prophet (ﷺ) more furious in giving advice than he was on that day. He then said, "O people! some of you make others dislike (good deeds, i.e. prayers etc). So whoever among you leads the people in prayer, he should shorten it because among them there are the old, the weak and the busy (needy having some jobs to do). (See Hadith No. 90, Vol. 1)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7159In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 273
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7159
This hadith about leading prayer teaches care for the people behind the imam. A man said he stayed away from the morning congregational prayer because someone made it too long. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) became very angry in his advice and said that some people make others dislike good deeds. He then instructed that whoever leads people in prayer should shorten it, because among them are the old, the weak, and those with needs or work. The hadith does not reject prayer itself. It teaches that a prayer leader should be considerate and should not make worship heavy for people who are following him.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should consider the condition of the people behind him.
- Making worship hard for others can push people away from good deeds.
- The old, weak, and busy should be kept in mind during congregational prayer.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected this matter with strong advice.
