5/12. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 844 — Pauses During Prayer
The two pauses of the Imam
Pauses During Prayer: A Calm Sunnah in Salah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 844
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 844
حَدَّثَنَا جَمِيلُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ جَمِيلٍ الْعَتَكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ، قَالَ سَكْتَتَانِ حَفِظْتُهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . فَأَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ عِمْرَانُ بْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ فَكَتَبْنَا إِلَى أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَكَتَبَ أَنَّ سَمُرَةَ قَدْ حَفِظَ . قَالَ سَعِيدٌ فَقُلْنَا لِقَتَادَةَ مَا هَاتَانِ السَّكْتَتَانِ قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي صَلاَتِهِ وَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ . ثُمَّ قَالَ بَعْدُ وَإِذَا قَرَأَ {غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ} . قَالَ وَكَانَ يُعْجِبُهُمْ إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ أَنْ يَسْكُتَ حَتَّى يَتَرَادَّ إِلَيْهِ نَفَسُهُ .
Samura b. Jundub Narrated from:
There are two pauses which I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but `Imran bin Husain denied that. We wrote to Ubayy bin Ka`b in Al-Madinah, and he wrote that Samurah had indeed memorized them.” (One of the narrators) Sa`eed said: "We said to Qatadah: 'What are these two pauses?' He said: 'When he started his prayer, and when he finished reciting.' Then later he said: 'And when he recited: 'Not (the way) of those who earned your anger, nor of those who went astray.' They used to like (for the Imam) when he had finished reciting to remain silent until he had caught his breath.'"
[1] Al-Fâtihah 1:7.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 844In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 42English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 844
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 844
Core Topic: Prayer Pauses. This Hadith describes two pauses that Samurah bin Jundab memorized from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. When Imran bin Husain denied it, they wrote to Ubayy bin Ka’b in Madinah, and he confirmed that Samurah had memorized correctly. Qatadah explained the pauses as being when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered prayer and when he finished reciting. The narration also mentions the point after reciting the end of Al-Fatiha and that they liked the Imam to remain silent until his breath returned. For people searching for pauses in Salah hadith, this report highlights measured recitation and calm movement in prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith reports pauses connected to prayer recitation.
- Ubayy bin Ka’b confirmed Samurah’s memory of the pauses.
- The Imam’s brief silence after recitation is mentioned in the narration.
- Prayer should be performed with calmness, not rush.
