5/48. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 987 — Consider the Weakest in Prayer
Whoever leads people (in Prayer), let him make it short
Consider the Weakest in Prayer Hadith for Imams
Sunan Ibn Majah : 987
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 987
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الشِّخِّيرِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ، يَقُولُ كَانَ آخِرَ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حِينَ أَمَّرَنِي عَلَى الطَّائِفِ قَالَ لِي " يَا عُثْمَانُ تَجَاوَزْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَاقْدِرِ النَّاسَ بِأَضْعَفِهِمْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَالصَّغِيرَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْبَعِيدَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ " .
Mutarrif bin ‘Abdullah bin Shikhkhir Narrated from:
I heard ‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As say: “The last thing that the Prophet (ﷺ) enjoined on me when he appointed me governor of Ta’if was that he said: “O ‘Uthman! Be tolerable in prayer and estimate the people based upon the weakest among them, for among them are the elderly, the young, the sick, those who live far from the mosque, and those who have pressing needs.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 987In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 185English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 987
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 987
This consider the weakest in prayer hadith gives clear advice to anyone who leads people. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم appointed ‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As over Ta’if, one of his final instructions to him was about prayer. He told him to be tolerable in prayer and to estimate the people based on the weakest among them. The text names several groups: the elderly, the young, the sick, those who live far from the mosque, and people with pressing needs. The hadith about imam mercy is direct. The imam should not measure the prayer only by his own strength. He should think about the people behind him, especially those who may struggle.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should consider the weakest worshippers behind him.
- The elderly, young, sick, distant, and busy are named in the hadith.
- Prayer should be tolerable for the congregation.
- Leadership in prayer requires awareness of people’s needs.
