4/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 470a — Mercy When a Child Cries
The Command To The Imam To Make The Prayer Brief But Complete
Hadith About Child Crying in Prayer: Mercy in Salah
Sahih Muslim : 470a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 470a
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ مَعَ أُمِّهِ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَقْرَأُ بِالسُّورَةِ الْخَفِيفَةِ أَوْ بِالسُّورَةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 470aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 217USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 951
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 470a
This hadith about child crying in prayer shows the mercy of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) during salah. Anas reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would hear a child crying while the child was with his mother in the prayer. Then he would recite a short surah or a light surah. The narration does not say that prayer was ignored. It says the recitation was made shorter. This keeps worship present while also taking the mother’s situation into account. Many people search for child crying prayer hadith because it shows how Islam considers real human needs during congregational worship. The core message is simple: the imam should be aware, gentle, and thoughtful when people behind him may be facing hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet noticed the cry of a child during prayer.
- He responded by reciting a short or light surah.
- The mother’s situation was considered during congregational prayer.
- Mercy can be shown while still continuing the prayer.
