37/15. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4171 — Pray Like a Farewell Prayer
Wisdom
Hadith About Farewell Prayer and Guarding Speech
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4171
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4171
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفُضَيْلُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ خُثَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عُثْمَانُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، - مَوْلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ - عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي وَأَوْجِزْ . قَالَ " إِذَا قُمْتَ فِي صَلاَتِكَ فَصَلِّ صَلاَةَ مُوَدِّعٍ وَلاَ تَكَلَّمْ بِكَلاَمٍ تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ وَأَجْمِعِ الْيَأْسَ عَمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ " .
Abu Ayyub Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me but make it concise.’ He said: ‘When you stand to pray, pray like a man bidding farewell. Do not say anything for which you will have to apologize. And give up hope for what other people have.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4171In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 72English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4171
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4171
This hadith about praying like a farewell prayer gives three short pieces of advice. A man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to teach him and keep it brief. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him that when he stands to pray, he should pray like a man bidding farewell. That makes the prayer feel serious, focused, and present. Then he said not to speak words for which one would have to apologize. This points to careful speech before it leaves the tongue. Finally, he said to give up hope for what other people have. The hadith joins prayer, speech, and inner freedom from people’s possessions. It is concise, but it touches daily worship, daily words, and daily desire.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer should be performed with deep focus, as if it were a farewell prayer.
- A believer should avoid speech that later needs apology.
- The heart should not be attached to what is in people’s hands.
- Brief advice can cover worship, words, and inner attitude.
