5/42. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 651c — A Strong Warning for Missing Prayer
The virtue of prayer in congregation, and clarifying the stern warning against staying away from it, and that it is fard kifayah
Hadith About the Warning for Not Joining Congregational Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 651c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 651c
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ فِتْيَانِي أَنْ يَسْتَعِدُّوا لِي بِحُزَمٍ مِنْ حَطَبٍ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ تُحَرَّقُ بُيُوتٌ عَلَى مَنْ فِيهَا " .
Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and (in this connection) he narrated some ahadith, one of them is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I intend that I should command my young men to gather bundles fuel for me, and then order a person to lead people in prayer, and then burn the houses with their inmates (who have not joined the congregation).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 651cIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 316USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1371
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 651c
This hadith about not joining congregational prayer comes through Hammam b. Munabbih from Abu Huraira. It reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم intended to ask young men to gather bundles of fuel, appoint someone to lead the people in prayer, and then burn houses over those who did not join. The wording is severe, so the lesson should be kept close to the text. It shows that missing the congregation without care is not treated as a small matter. It does not mention every excuse or every situation. For searches like hadith warning missing prayer, not attending jamaat hadith, and congregation prayer warning, the core message is seriousness toward communal prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith gives a strong warning against neglecting congregational prayer.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would appoint someone to lead prayer before addressing absentees.
- The wording shows that staying away from the congregation is a serious matter.
