4/39. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 474c — Follow the Prophet in Prayer
Following The Imam And Acting After Him
Follow the Prophet in Prayer: Bowing and Prostrating After the Imam
Sahih Muslim : 474c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 474c
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَهْمٍ الأَنْطَاكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ، يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ حَدَّثَنَا الْبَرَاءُ، أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَقَالَ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ " . لَمْ نَزَلْ قِيَامًا حَتَّى نَرَاهُ قَدْ وَضَعَ وَجْهَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ نَتَّبِعُهُ .
Al-Bara Narrated from:
They (the Companions) said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and they bowed when he (the Holy Prophet) bowed. and when he raised his head after bowing, he pronounced:" Allah listened to him who praised Him," and we kept standing till we saw him placing his face on the ground and then we followed him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 474cIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 226USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 960
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 474c
This hadith shows how the Companions followed the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in prayer. When he bowed, they bowed. When he raised his head after bowing and said, Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah, they remained standing until they saw him place his face on the ground. Then they followed him into prostration. The narration gives a clear example of following the imam in salah. It is not only about doing the same actions, but doing them in the right order. The followers did not rush into sujood. They waited until they saw the Prophet’s movement. For search terms like bow when imam bows hadith and follow imam prayer hadith, this report gives a direct picture from the prayer itself.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions bowed when the Prophet bowed.
- They stayed standing until they saw him prostrate.
- Following the imam includes matching the order of movements.
- The prayer behind an imam should be calm and orderly.
