5/42. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 651b — Fajr and Isha Are Heavy on Hypocrites
The virtue of prayer in congregation, and clarifying the stern warning against staying away from it, and that it is fard kifayah
Hadith About Fajr and Isha Prayer Being Heavy on Hypocrites
Sahih Muslim : 651b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 651b
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلاَةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلاَةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلاَةُ الْفَجْرِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَتُقَامَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لاَ يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the night prayer and the morning prayer. If they were to know the blessings they have in store, they would have come to them, even though crawling, and I thought that I should order the prayer to be commenced and command a person to lead people in prayer, and I should then go along with some persons having a fagot of fuel with them to the people who have not attended the prayer (in congregation) and would burn their houses with fire.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 651bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 315USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1370
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 651b
This hadith about Fajr and Isha prayer speaks with strong words. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr. He also said that if they knew what was in these two prayers, they would come even if crawling. The report then mentions his serious warning toward people who do not attend the prayer in congregation. The text is not a soft reminder only; it is a stern call to take these prayers seriously. For people searching Fajr and Isha hadith, hypocrites prayer hadith, or crawling to prayer hadith, this narration shows that these two prayers have a special test of sincerity and effort.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fajr and Isha are described as especially heavy upon hypocrites.
- The hadith encourages effort in attending these prayers.
- Neglecting congregation is treated as a serious matter in the wording.
