5/54. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1003 — Praying Alone Behind the Row
A man’s prayer behind the row on his own
Praying Alone Behind the Row: A Serious Prayer Lesson
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1003
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1003
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُلاَزِمُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَدْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَيْبَانَ - وَكَانَ مِنَ الْوَفْدِ - قَالَ خَرَجْنَا حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَبَايَعْنَاهُ وَصَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْنَا وَرَاءَهُ صَلاَةً أُخْرَى فَقَضَى الصَّلاَةَ فَرَأَى رَجُلاً فَرْدًا يُصَلِّي خَلْفَ الصَّفِّ . قَالَ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ قَالَ " اسْتَقْبِلْ صَلاَتَكَ، لاَ صَلاَةَ لِلَّذِي خَلْفَ الصَّفِّ " .
Ali ibn Shayban Narrated from:
We set out until we came to the Prophet (ﷺ). We gave him our oath of allegiance and performed prayer behind him. Then we offered another prayer behind him. He finished the prayer and saw a man on his own, praying behind the row.” He said: “The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) stood beside him and when he finished he said: ‘Repeat your prayer; there is no prayer for the one who is behind the row.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1003In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 201English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1003
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1003
This hadith about praying alone behind the row describes a clear event after congregational prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم finished the prayer and saw a man praying by himself behind the row. When the man finished, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to repeat his prayer and said that there is no prayer for the one who is behind the row. The wording is direct and strong. The main lesson is that a person should join the prayer row rather than stand alone behind it when praying in congregation. This hadith on prayer rows shows that congregational salah is not only about praying at the same time. It is also about standing with the group in the proper way.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not stand alone behind the row in congregational prayer.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed the man to repeat his prayer.
- Joining the row is part of proper congregational prayer in this narration.
- The prayer row has a clear place in the structure of salah.
