5/39. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 640a — Waiting for Prayer Counts as Prayer
The time of `Isha and delaying it
Waiting for Prayer Hadith: You Are in Salah While You Wait
Sahih Muslim : 640a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 640a
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ الْعَمِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، . أَنَّهُمْ سَأَلُوا أَنَسًا عَنْ خَاتَمِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَخَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ كَادَ يَذْهَبُ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلَّوْا وَنَامُوا وَإِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ " . قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى وَبِيصِ خَاتَمِهِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَرَفَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ الْيُسْرَى بِالْخِنْصَرِ .
Thabit reported: They (the believers) asked Anas about the ring of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: One night the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed (observing) the 'Isya' prayer up to the midnight or midnight was about to be over. He then came and said: (Other) people have offered prayers and slept, but you are constantly in prayer as long as you wait for prayer. Anas said: I perceive as if I am seeing the lustre of his silver ring, and lifted his, small left finger (in order to show how the Prophet had lifted it).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 640aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 281USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1336
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 640a
Competitor-style search intent for this hadith points to “waiting for prayer counts as prayer hadith,” with related searches like “you are in prayer as long as you wait,” “delayed Isha hadith,” and “Sahih Muslim 640a.” Thabit reports that people asked Anas about the ring of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Anas then mentioned a night when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delayed Isha until midnight, or nearly midnight. He came and said that other people had prayed and slept, but those waiting had remained in prayer as long as they waited for the prayer. Anas also remembered the shine of the Prophet’s silver ring and showed how he lifted his small left finger. The main teaching is warm and practical: waiting for salah with the purpose of prayer is itself treated as being in prayer in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delayed Isha until around midnight in this report.
- He said those waiting remained in prayer as long as they waited.
- Anas remembered the silver ring of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم clearly.
- The hadith encourages patient waiting for salah with the right purpose.
