6/65. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1634 — Prayer Focus
What was narrated concerning the death and burial of the Prophet (SAW)
Hadith About Looking in Prayer and Fitnah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1634
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1634
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ الْحِزَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِي، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ أَبِي وَدَاعَةَ السَّهْمِيُّ حَدَّثَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّاسُ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِذَا قَامَ الْمُصَلِّي يُصَلِّي لَمْ يَعْدُ بَصَرُ أَحَدِهِمْ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَيْهِ فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَكَانَ النَّاسُ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُهُمْ يُصَلِّي لَمْ يَعْدُ بَصَرُ أَحَدِهِمْ مَوْضِعَ جَبِينِهِ فَتُوُفِّيَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ فَكَانَ النَّاسُ إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُهُمْ يُصَلِّي لَمْ يَعْدُ بَصَرُ أَحَدِهِمْ مَوْضِعَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَكَانَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فَكَانَتِ الْفِتْنَةُ فَتَلَفَّتَ النَّاسُ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً .
Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah Narrated from:
It was narrated that Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), said: “At the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), if a person stood to pray, his gaze would not go beyond his feet. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died, if a person stood to pray, his gaze would not go beyond the place where he put his forehead when prostrating. Then Abu Bakr died and it was ‘Umar (the caliph). So, when any person stood to pray his gaze would not go beyond the Qiblah. Then came the time of ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan, and there was Fitnah (tribulation, turmoil), and the people started to look right and left.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1634In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 202English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1634
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1634
This Hadith about looking in prayer records Umm Salamah’s description of a change over time. In the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, a person’s gaze in prayer would not go beyond his feet. After the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died, the gaze would not go beyond the place of prostration. After Abu Bakr died and ‘Umar was caliph, the gaze would not go beyond the Qiblah. Then in the time of ‘Uthman, when fitnah occurred, people began to look right and left. The Hadith links prayer focus with the state of people’s hearts and times. It should be explained carefully as a report of what she observed, not as a full ruling by itself.
What we learn from this hadith
- Focus in prayer was described as stronger in earlier times.
- Umm Salamah connected looking around with fitnah and change.
- Prayer can show what is happening inside people’s hearts.
- The report warns against distraction during salah.
