4/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 398b — Reciting Behind the Imam
Prohibiting The Follower From Reciting Aloud Behind An Imam
Hadith About Reciting Behind the Imam in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 398b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 398b
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زُرَارَةَ بْنَ أَوْفَى، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ فَجَعَلَ رَجُلٌ يَقْرَأُ خَلْفَهُ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ " أَيُّكُمْ قَرَأَ " أَوْ " أَيُّكُمُ الْقَارِئُ " فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَنَا . فَقَالَ " قَدْ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ خَالَجَنِيهَا " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the Zuhr prayer and a person recited Sabbih Isma Rabbik al-a'la (Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High) behind him. When he (the Holy Pro- phet) concluded the prayer he said: Who amongst you recited (the above-mentioned verse) or who amongst you was the reciter? A person said: It was I. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) observed: I thought as if someone amongst you was disputing with me (in what I was reciting).
[1] Sûrat Al-A'lâ (87).Reference : Sahih Muslim 398bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 50USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 784
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 398b
This hadith about reciting behind the imam shows a simple but serious point about prayer recitation. During the Zuhr prayer, a person recited Surah al-A'la behind the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. After the prayer ended, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked who had recited. When the person admitted it, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he felt as if someone was disputing with him in what he was reciting. The focus here is not on blaming a person harshly, but on showing that prayer behind the imam needs order, calm, and attention. The hadith guides worshippers to be careful with their voice and actions when praying behind an imam, especially when recitation is taking place.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer behind the imam should be done with calm and order.
- A worshipper should avoid causing confusion in the imam's recitation.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected prayer practice after the prayer was complete.
- Admitting one's action openly can help others learn proper prayer manners.
