4/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 466a — Do Not Scare People from Prayer
The Command To The Imam To Make The Prayer Brief But Complete
Hadith About Imams Not Scaring People Away from Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 466a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 466a
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي لأَتَأَخَّرُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ مِنْ أَجْلِ فُلاَنٍ مِمَّا يُطِيلُ بِنَا . فَمَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَضِبَ فِي مَوْعِظَةٍ قَطُّ أَشَدَّ مِمَّا غَضِبَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ فَأَيُّكُمْ أَمَّ النَّاسَ فَلْيُوجِزْ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ الْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ " .
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari Narrated from:
A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long. I never saw God's Messenger (ﷺ) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people, some of you are scaring people away. So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief, for behind him are the weak, the aged, and the people who have (argent) business to attend.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 466aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 206USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 940
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 466a
This hadith about imams not scaring people away from prayer gives a strong warning. A man came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said he stayed away from the morning prayer because a certain man made it too long. Abu Mas’ud said he never saw the Prophet more angry in an exhortation than on that day. The Prophet said that some people were driving others away. Then he told whoever leads people in prayer to be brief, because behind him may be the aged, the weak, and people with needs. The main teaching is care and mercy in prayer leadership. The imam must not think only about himself. He must remember the people standing behind him.
What we learn from this hadith
- Making prayer too long can push some people away.
- The Prophet strongly warned against burdening people in congregational prayer.
- An imam should remember the aged, the weak, and those with needs.
- Brief prayer when leading others is a form of care mentioned in the hadith.
