5/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 544a — Learning Prayer from the Prophet’s Pulpit
The permissibility of taking one or two steps while praying, and that is not disliked if done for a reason. The permissibility of the Imam praying in a place that is higher than the people praying behind him, if that is done for a reason, such as teaching them how to offer prayers, and other than that.
Hadith About Learning Prayer from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Sahih Muslim : 544a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 544a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ نَفَرًا، جَاءُوا إِلَى سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَدْ تَمَارَوْا فِي الْمِنْبَرِ مِنْ أَىِّ عُودٍ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْرِفُ مِنْ أَىِّ عُودٍ هُوَ وَمَنْ عَمِلَهُ وَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ جَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبَّاسٍ فَحَدِّثْنَا . قَالَ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ قَالَ أَبُو حَازِمٍ إِنَّهُ لَيُسَمِّيهَا يَوْمَئِذٍ " انْظُرِي غُلاَمَكِ النَّجَّارَ يَعْمَلْ لِي أَعْوَادًا أُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا " . فَعَمِلَ هَذِهِ الثَّلاَثَ دَرَجَاتٍ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوُضِعَتْ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعَ فَهْىَ مِنْ طَرْفَاءِ الْغَابَةِ . وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَامَ عَلَيْهِ فَكَبَّرَ وَكَبَّرَ النَّاسُ وَرَاءَهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَنَزَلَ الْقَهْقَرَى حَتَّى سَجَدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ عَادَ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ آخِرِ صَلاَتِهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ " يَا أُيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي صَنَعْتُ هَذَا لِتَأْتَمُّوا بِي وَلِتَعَلَّمُوا صَلاَتِي " .
Abu Hazim Narrated from:
Some people came to Sahl b. Sa'd and began to differ about the wood of which the (Prophet's pulpit was made. He (Sahl b. Sa'd) said: By Allah, I know of which wood it is made and who made it, and the day when I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) seated himself on it on the first day. I said to him: O Abu Abbas (kunyah of Sabl b. Sa'd), narrate to us (all these facts), He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a person to a woman asking her to allow her slave, a carpenter, to work on woods (to prepare a pulpit) so that I should talk to the people (sitting on it). Abu Hazim said: He (Sahl b. Sa'd) pointed out the name of (that lady) that day. So he (the carpenter) made (a pulpit) with these three steps. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded it to be placed here (where it is lying now). It was fashioned out of the wood of al-Ghaba. And I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) standing upon it and glorifying Allah and the people also glorified Allah after him, while he was on the pulpit. He then raised (his head from prostration) and stepped back (on his heels) till he prostrated himself at the base of pulpit, and then returned (to the former place and this movement of one or two steps continued) till the prayer was complete. He then turned towards the people and said: O people, I have done it so that you should follow me and learn (my mode of) prayer.
[1] A wooded area near Al-Madinah.Reference : Sahih Muslim 544aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1111
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 544a
This hadith about learning prayer from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gives a detailed scene involving the pulpit. Sahl b. Sa’d explained what wood the pulpit was made from, who made it, and when he first saw the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم sit on it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had a carpenter prepare a three-step pulpit so he could speak to the people. Then he stood on it, glorified Allah, and the people followed him. He stepped back to prostrate at the base of the pulpit and continued until the prayer was complete. He then explained the reason clearly: he did it so the people would follow him and learn his prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used the pulpit to help people follow him.
- He showed the people his prayer through action.
- He explained that the purpose was teaching them how he prayed.
