5/49. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 990 — Shortening Prayer for Crying Child
The Imam should make the Prayer short if something happens
Shortening Prayer for Crying Child Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 990
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 990
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي كَرِيمَةَ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ " .
‘Uthman b. Abul ‘As Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘I hear an infant crying so I make the prayer short.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 990In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 188English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 990
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 990
This shortening prayer for crying child hadith gives a simple statement from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He said: “I hear an infant crying so I make the prayer short.” The narration does not add more details here, so the meaning should stay close to these words. It shows that the imam may adjust the length of prayer when there is a clear need among the people. A crying infant can affect the child, the mother, and the congregation. The hadith about a crying baby in prayer is part of a wider lesson found in these narrations: prayer should be led with care, not with hardship. The imam should be aware of what is happening behind him.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم shortened prayer after hearing an infant cry.
- An imam can respond to real needs in the congregation.
- Prayer leadership should include care and attention.
- Keeping prayer shorter can be an act of mercy in the right situation.
