4/36. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 465a — Do Not Make Prayer Hard
Recitation During 'Isha
Hadith About an Imam Keeping Prayer Easy for People
Sahih Muslim : 465a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 465a
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَأْتِي فَيَؤُمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَصَلَّى لَيْلَةً مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَانْحَرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ وَلآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلأُخْبِرَنَّهُ . فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَإِنَّ مُعَاذًا صَلَّى مَعَكَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ . فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ " يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا " . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَقُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو إِنَّ أَبَا الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " اقْرَأْ وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا . وَالضُّحَى . وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى . وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى " . فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو نَحْوَ هَذَا .
Jabir Narrated from:
Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray with the Apostle (ﷺ), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed.The people said to him: Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah).It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Holy Prophet) had said:"By the sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci),"By brightness" (Surah xciii),"By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii), and"Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii).
[1] Meaning, to bring the people to trial, and repel them from the religion. [2] Ash-Shams 91:1. [3] Ad-Duha 93:1. [4] Al-Lail 92:1. [5] Al-A’lâ 87:1.Reference : Sahih Muslim 465aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 202USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 936
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 465a
This hadith about an imam keeping prayer easy tells the story of Mu’adh b. Jabal leading his people in Isha after praying with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). One night he began with Surah Al-Baqara, and a man left, ended his prayer, prayed alone, and went away. When people accused him of hypocrisy, he went to the Prophet and explained that they worked by day looking after watering camels. The Prophet turned to Mu’adh and said, Are you there to put the people to trial? He then mentioned shorter surahs such as Ash-Shams, Ad-Duha, Al-Lail, and Al-Ala. The main message is clear: an imam should think about the people behind him and avoid making prayer too hard for them.
What we learn from this hadith
- An imam should consider the condition of the people praying behind him.
- Long recitation can become hard for workers and others with needs.
- The Prophet corrected Mu’adh when his prayer became difficult for people.
- Shorter surahs may be suitable when leading people in prayer.
