5/49. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 989 — Infant Crying During Prayer
The Imam should make the Prayer short if something happens
Infant Crying During Prayer Hadith: Mercy for Mothers
Sunan Ibn Majah : 989
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 989
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنِّي لأَدْخُلُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلاَتِي مِمَّا أَعْلَمُ لِوَجْدِ أُمِّهِ بِبُكَائِهِ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘I start prayer and I want to make it long, but then I hear an infant crying, so I make my prayer short, because I know the distress caused to the mother by his crying.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 989In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 187English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 989
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 989
This infant crying during prayer hadith shows the kindness of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while leading salah. He said that he would begin prayer wanting to make it long, but if he heard an infant crying, he would shorten the prayer. The reason given in the text is very human: he knew the distress caused to the mother by the child’s crying. The hadith about shortening prayer for a crying child teaches that prayer leadership should notice real hardship in the congregation. It also shows that care for a mother’s stress was not ignored. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not treat the child’s cry as a small matter. He responded by making the prayer easier.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم shortened prayer when a crying infant caused distress to the mother.
- An imam should notice hardship among those praying behind him.
- Mercy and awareness are part of good prayer leadership.
- Wanting a longer prayer can be changed when people’s needs call for ease.
