5/48. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 984 — Keep Congregational Prayer Short
Whoever leads people (in Prayer), let him make it short
Keep Prayer Short Hadith: Mercy in Leading Salah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 984
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 984
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَتَأَخَّرُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ مِنْ أَجْلِ فُلاَنٍ لِمَا يُطِيلُ بِنَا فِيهَا . قَالَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَطُّ فِي مَوْعِظَةٍ أَشَدَّ غَضَبًا مِنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ فَأَيُّكُمْ مَا صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُجَوِّزْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ " .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I stay behind and do not perform the morning prayer (in congregation) because of so-and-so, for he makes it too long for us.’ I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) preaching with such anger as he did that day. He said; ‘O people! There are among you those who repel others. Whoever among you leads others in prayer, let him keep it short, for among them are those who are weak and elderly, and those who have pressing needs.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 984In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 182English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 984
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 984
This keep prayer short hadith shows how strongly the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared about people in congregational prayer. A man said he stayed away from the morning prayer because someone made it too long. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم became very angry in his sermon and said that some people repel others. He then gave a clear rule for anyone leading prayer: keep it short, because among the worshippers are the weak, the elderly, and people with pressing needs. The hadith about not making prayer too long does not call for careless prayer. It calls for a prayer that people can bear. An imam should think about those behind him, not only about what he personally can handle.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should not make prayer so long that people are driven away.
- The weak, elderly, and busy must be considered in congregational prayer.
- Prayer leadership should include mercy and awareness of others.
- Length should be balanced with the needs of the people praying behind the imam.
