3/33. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 376a — Prayer Delayed by Private Talk
Evidence that sleeping while sitting does not invalidate wudu’
Hadith About Prayer Being Delayed for a Private Conversation
Sahih Muslim : 376a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 376a
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَجِيٌّ لِرَجُلٍ - وَفِي حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ وَنَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُنَاجِي الرَّجُلَ - فَمَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى نَامَ الْقَوْمُ .
Anas Narrated from:
(The people) stood up for prayer and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was whispering to a man, and in the narration of 'Abd al-Warith (the words are): The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) was having a private conversation with a man, and did not start the prayer till the people dozed off.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 376aIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 154USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 731
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 376a
This hadith describes a moment when the people stood for prayer, but the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was speaking privately with a man. The narration says he did not start the prayer until the people dozed off. The wording is about a real event, not a broad rule by itself. It shows that the prayer had been established, yet the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم continued the private conversation for a need known in that moment. We should not invent the topic of the conversation because the text does not say it. For searches like hadith about delayed prayer or private conversation before prayer, the main point is that the prayer began after that conversation ended.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was engaged in a private conversation before leading prayer.
- The people waited until some became sleepy.
- The narration does not state the subject of the private talk, so it should not be guessed.
