5/42. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 649e — Prayer With the Imam
The virtue of prayer in congregation, and clarifying the stern warning against staying away from it, and that it is fard kifayah
Hadith About Prayer With the Imam Being Better Than Praying Alone
Sahih Muslim : 649e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 649e
حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخُوَارِ، أَنَّهُ بَيْنَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ مَعَ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ خَتَنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ زَبَّانٍ مَوْلَى الْجُهَنِيِّينَ فَدَعَاهُ نَافِعٌ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صَلاَةٌ مَعَ الإِمَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ خَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ صَلاَةً يُصَلِّيهَا وَحْدَهُ " .
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: Prayer along with the Imam is twenty-five times more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 649eIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 309USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1364
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 649e
This hadith about prayer with the Imam explains the value of joining the established congregation. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that prayer along with the Imam is twenty-five times more excellent than prayer said by a single person. The wording brings the Imam into focus. It shows that the reward is tied to being part of the gathered prayer, not only standing in the same place. For people searching prayer with Imam hadith, congregational prayer reward, or salah behind Imam, this narration gives a clear message. When the prayer is being led and a person joins it, that prayer has a higher rank than praying alone. The text stays on this one point.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer with the Imam has greater excellence than praying alone.
- Joining the led prayer is part of the value of congregation.
- The hadith encourages Muslims to take the congregational prayer seriously.
