4/28. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 438a — Come Forward
Straightening The Rows; The Virtue Of The Front Row And Then The Next; Competing With One Another For The Front Row; The People Of Virtue Should Take Precedence And Be Closest To The Imam
Hadith About Coming Forward in Prayer Rows
Sahih Muslim : 438a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 438a
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْهَبِ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ الْعَبْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ " تَقَدَّمُوا فَائْتَمُّوا بِي وَلْيَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ لاَ يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw (a tendency) among his Companions to go to the back, so he said to them: Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back.
[1] Meaning away from His mercy or Paradise.Reference : Sahih Muslim 438aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 144USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 878
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 438a
This Hadith about coming forward in prayer rows speaks to people who hold back in the mosque. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a tendency among his Companions to go to the back. He told them to come forward and follow his lead, and said that those after them should follow their lead. The Hadith then warns that people may continue to keep back until Allah puts them at the back. The message is not about pushing others; it is about avoiding needless delay and taking a place in front when it is open. For readers searching for come forward in prayer hadith, this report is direct and easy to apply.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worshippers should come forward instead of staying back without need.
- Those in front should follow the Prophet’s lead in prayer.
- Those behind can follow the lead of those before them.
- The Hadith warns against a habit of always keeping back.
