6/29. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 781a — Optional Prayer at Home
It is recommended to offer voluntary prayers in one’s house although it is permissible to offer them in the masjid
Optional Prayer at Home Except Obligatory Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 781a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 781a
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَالِمٌ أَبُو النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ احْتَجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حُجَيْرَةً بِخَصَفَةٍ أَوْ حَصِيرٍ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي فِيهَا - قَالَ - فَتَتَبَّعَ إِلَيْهِ رِجَالٌ وَجَاءُوا يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ جَاءُوا لَيْلَةً فَحَضَرُوا وَأَبْطَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْهُمْ - قَالَ - فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَرَفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَهُمْ وَحَصَبُوا الْبَابَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُغْضَبًا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا زَالَ بِكُمْ صَنِيعُكُمْ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُكْتَبُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ صَلاَةِ الْمَرْءِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ " .
Zaid bin Thabit Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made an apartment with the help of the leaves of date trees or of mats. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out to pray in it. People followed him and came to pray with him. Then they again came one night and waited (for him), but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed in coming out to them. And when he did not come out, they cried aloud and threw pebbles at the door.The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out in anger and said to them: By what you have been constantly doing, I was inclined to think that it (prayer) might not become obligatory for you. So you must observe prayer (optional) in your houses, for the prayer observed by a man in the house is better except an obligatory prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 781aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 253USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1708
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 781a
This hadith gives a fuller story about optional prayer at home. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم made a small enclosure with date leaves or mats and prayed in it. People followed and prayed with him. They came again at night and waited, but he delayed and did not come out. When they raised their voices and threw pebbles at the door, he came out angry. He said their repeated action made him think the prayer might become obligatory for them. Then he told them to pray in their houses, because a man’s prayer in his house is better except the obligatory prayer. The main topic is optional prayer at home and avoiding hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared that optional prayer not become obligatory on people.
- Optional prayer is encouraged in the home.
- Obligatory prayer is excepted in the wording of the hadith.
- The companions’ eagerness needed guidance so worship stayed manageable.
