5/42. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 651a — Warning Against Missing Congregation
The virtue of prayer in congregation, and clarifying the stern warning against staying away from it, and that it is fard kifayah
Hadith About Missing Congregational Prayer and the Serious Warning
Sahih Muslim : 651a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 651a
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَدَ نَاسًا فِي بَعْضِ الصَّلَوَاتِ فَقَالَ " لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أُخَالِفَ إِلَى رِجَالٍ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنْهَا فَآمُرَ بِهِمْ فَيُحَرِّقُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بِحُزَمِ الْحَطَبِ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَظْمًا سَمِينًا لَشَهِدَهَا " . يَعْنِي صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ .
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) found some people absenting from certain prayers and he said: I intend that I order (a) person to lead people in prayer, and then go to the persons who do not join the (congregational prayer) and then order their houses to be burnt by the bundles of fuel. If one amongst them were to know that he would find a fat fleshy bone he would attend the night prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 651aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 314USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1369
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 651a
This hadith about missing congregational prayer is a strong warning. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed some people absent from certain prayers. He spoke of intending to appoint someone to lead the people, then go to those who did not join the congregation and punish them severely. The narration also mentions that if one of them knew he would find a fat fleshy bone, he would attend the night prayer. The point is not casual. The text shows how serious neglecting the congregation can be, especially when people are drawn by worldly gain but slow for prayer. For search terms like missing congregation hadith, Isha prayer hadith, and warning against leaving jamaat, this narration is direct.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a serious warning about staying away from congregational prayer.
- The text points to the danger of giving worldly benefit more attention than prayer.
- The night prayer is mentioned here as a prayer people were neglecting.
