5/59. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1018 — Salam While Praying
If the greeting is given to a person who is performing Prayer, how should he respond?
Salam While Praying: A Hadith on Prayer Focus
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1018
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1018
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ لِحَاجَةٍ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ " إِنَّكَ سَلَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ آنِفًا وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) sent me on an errand, then I caught up with him while he was performing prayer, and I greeted him. He gestured to me, then when he finished, he called me and said: ‘You greeted me before, but I was performing prayer.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1018In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 216English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1018
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1018
This hadith about salam while praying reports that Jabir greeted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was performing prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gestured to him. After finishing the prayer, he called Jabir and explained that Jabir had greeted him while he was praying. The narration teaches two things directly from the text: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not give a spoken reply during the prayer, and he later clarified the matter when the prayer was complete. This responding to salam in salah hadith shows the special focus of prayer. It also shows kindness in correction, because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed Jabir after finishing rather than interrupting the prayer with speech.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gestured when greeted during prayer.
- He explained the matter after the prayer was finished.
- The hadith shows that prayer has a focused state.
- Correction can be given calmly after worship is complete.
